Summary
ADC and other manufacturers that have built solutions for rural telecom providers that shorten the loop using FTTH technology. Using existing functionality these manufacturers will have an immediate marketing play to bringing bandwidth constrained mobile cellular towers from the E1/T1 world into the Ethernet backhaul realm of possibilities.
Analysis
Players such as Actelis, Turin, and ADC will have a unique approach to gaining favor with the mobile operator and regional cell site operator that is seeking a solution to the limitations of their existing TDM oriented backhaul and the growing demands of smart data devices that communicate over mobile cellular networks.
The deployment time for an Ethernet backhaul solution is shorter and more straightforward when there is a LEC or overbuilder with nearby fiber assets. While there are amazing advances in licensed radio backhaul solutions from companies like DragonWave, Ceragon, Trango, Harris Stratex, and others it is important to understand that integrators for these solutions face tower loading and other traditional RF concerns. For example, fiber connectivity from tower to tower or tower to Internet egress is far less prone to environmental concerns. Indeed, the adaptive modulation stories from these radio solution companies is impressive but highlights that weather systems are of concern in the RF world.
As such, the market will show that licensed radio backhaul solutions will either lead as the solution when no fiber solution alternative (provider, operator) exists. The limitation here is of course the deployment model and regional factors associated with proper RF engineering.
As network mature and loading of revenue generating services reaches mass on licensed radio backhaul solutions there is likely entrance of a traditional fiber backhaul solution. Expect fiber solutions to be a growing area as services increasingly converge.
While several WiMAX and LTE opinion pieces from otherwise reputable think tanks have confused or conflated the value of fiber assets vs. mobile solutions, it is fair to say that fiber will only become more important as mobile data technology adoption increases. As such, mobile operators and companies that adopt solutions from manufacturers to address this need will benefit and better service the subscriber data demand.
