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Neo Network Development: Facilitating Access to Network Real Estate

Vince Aragona, CEO, Neo Network DevelopmentVince Aragona, CEO
Ever since the smart phone was introduced in 2007, the demand for mobile data has grown exponentially, with wireless data traffic nearly doubling each year. The consumers voracious appetite for streaming, high definition video, online gaming and workforce mobility continues to test the wireless service providers ability to keep pace with the unprecedented surge in demand.

While high power “macro cells” built on traditional structures like cell towers, rooftops and water tanks are ideal for providing coverage to large numbers of subscribers over large areas, low power, densely deployed outdoor small cells placed on utility poles, street lights, traffic signals and new poles placed within the public and utility rights of way is the next wave of wireless infrastructure. According to the Wireless Industry Associations (WIA) forecast, there will be 800,000 small cells across the U.S. by the end of 2026. More recent data suggests that is just the tip of a very big iceberg. According to a 2019 report analysis and report published by Google, the number of small cells needed to densify 4G and deploy 5G to cover just 50 percent of the US population could eclipse 13 million, while an internal analysis produced by Neo Networks estimates that figure to be closer to 20 to 22 million with a build price measured in the hundreds of billions.

Innovations in 4G technology and densification of 4G networks with low power, high capacity small cells help offload network congestion and recover capacity and the nationwide roll out of ultra-high capacity 5G small cells are already proving to deliver lower latency and network speeds that are orders of magnitude faster than 4G. More advanced network architectures are now capable of supporting an unlimited number of new applications and use cases but wireless carrier small cells are just two examples of wireless technologies slated for the rights of way.

According to Vince Aragona, Neo Networks founder and CEO, “5G is not just a new protocol for cellular, 5G is a vast ecosystem of advanced and emerging wireless technologies.” While the incumbents are likely to be the first and largest tenants of the rights of way, wireless internet services providers (“WISP”), cable and satellite TV operators and a rapidly growing list of new entrants are preparing to offer some truly amazing new technologies. Municipalities, transportation, and public safety agencies are also educating themselves on how to best enable their smart city, intelligent transportation systems, connected and autonomous vehicles, crime prevention, and law enforcement technologies with a reduced reliance on the private sector.

The one common attribute that all 5G technologies and service providers share is that they are all setting their sights on the rights of way. While the promise of these advanced and emerging smart city and 5G technologies is fascinating, the most pressing challenge for the service providers is gauging the time and expense to secure the rights to attach to poles and applying for and receiving permits from the local jurisdictions. Simplifying and streamlining right of way and infrastructure access is where Neo Network Development is changing the way that small cell networks get built.

With over 23,000 jurisdictions to choose from, Open Access is a key differentiator that lets carriers know our communities welcome their investment, value their technology and are open for business

With nearly 40 years of progressive experience in the deployment and operation of wireless and optical networksand over 20 years of progressive experience specializing in outdoor small cells and fiber optic-based network architectures, Neo Networks is at the forefront of helping public sector agencies market and manage their assets.

Established in 2013, Neo Networks charter was to solve the right of way and right of way infrastructure access problem. Putting the problem in perspective, Aragona states, "Nationwide, there are over 23,000 municipalities and transportation agencies but only about 5 percent have ever even seen an application for a small cell so when the services providers show up, they’re just not ready.”

Neo’s Open Access platform was developed for public sector agencies that understand the economic development benefits and community value of advanced technology but lack the budget, staffing, resources, and wireless expertise to develop an effective marketing and management program needed to attract technology investment.

Initially crafted to comply with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and updated to include subsequent FCC orders, the company’s solution offers municipalities and transportation agencies a comprehensive, repeatable and scalable solution that can easily be adopted and customized for agencies operating in states with small cell legislation in place.

Neo’s platform includes a best practices small cell siting policy, engineering and construction standards, clearly defined application, planning and permitting process, a unified rate and fee schedule and all the agreement templates needed to administer pole attachments. The program also includes cost-free access to Neo’s software systems. Aragona adds, “The embedded workflows in our second-generation software digitizes the entire planning and approval process that has already proven decrease approvals from 12 to 18 months to less than 30 days.”

Using a combination of proprietary techniques, the company catalogs and inventories all of the available assets and infrastructure belonging to the local jurisdiction such as utility poles, streetlights, traffic signal poles, buildings, rooftops, water tanks, towers, signage and other vertical structures and pinpoints right of way locations suitable for placement of new poles. Neo productizes access at the portfolio level, delivers and markets these assets and their associated business terms to all interested service providers. As sites are selected and reserved, Neo facilitates the leasing, zoning, planning and permitting process and manages the asset base throughout the lease term. Neo even offers optional turn key deployment services, build to suit fiber connectivity and carrier project financing.

Perhaps the most unique attribute of Neo’s Open Access solution is their business model. Operating under a public – private partnership and a success-based revenue sharing arrangement, their platform solution is offered as a non-exclusive, cost free and risk-free way recover all costs, create new non-taxpayer revenues and have their rights of way actively marketed and professionally managed.

According to Aragona, “With over 23,000 jurisdictions to choose from, Open Access is a key differentiator that lets carriers know our communities welcome their investment, value their technology and are open for business.”
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Top Small Cell and DAS Companies
Top 10 Small Cell and DAS Consulting/Service Companies - 2020
Neo Network Development

Company
Neo Network Development

Headquarters
Naperville, IL

Management
Vince Aragona, CEO

Description
Neo Network Development offers comprehensive solutions to help wireless carriers secure access to Government-owned facilities and infrastructure. The company’s platform includes a best practices small cell siting policy, engineering and construction standards, clearly defined application, planning and permitting process, a unified rate and fee schedule and all the agreement templates needed to administer pole attachments. Neo even offers optional turn key deployment services, build to suit fiber connectivity and carrier project financing

Neo Network Development News

Neo Network Development Recognized as a Top 10 Small Cell and DAS Company by TelecomTech Outlook

Naperville, IL - Neo Network Development (Neo Network), a company that provides comprehensive solutions to the access, coverage, capacity and network densification challenges faced by the major U.S. wireless carriers and broadband service providers, announces that TelecomTech Outlook, a Technology Magazine for Telecom, recognizes the company and its Open Access platform among the top 10 Small Cell and DAS Consulting/Service Companies 2020.

Neo Networks Open Access platform is a public-private partnership and success-based revenue-sharing solution that allows public sector agencies to streamline application review processes while marketing active and available rights-of-way opportunities. The platform was specifically designed for public sector agencies, offering them access to a fully loaded and customized solution that helps expedite communications infrastructure applications that align with local, state and federal guidelines and regulations. This reduces the complexity of effectively managing the review and approval process.

The Open Access platform provides public sector agencies a streamlined process, offering:

• Best practices for small cell siting policy

• Engineering and construction standards

• A clearly defined application

• A planning and permitting process

• A unified rate and fee schedule

• All the agreement templates needed to administer pole attachments

• Information about cost-free access poles, streetlights, traffic signal poles, buildings, rooftops, water tanks, towers, signage and other vertical structures

• The ability to pinpoint right-of-way locations suitable for placement of new poles

Our Open Access platform is equally valuable to public sector agencies as it is to the communications infrastructure companies such as wireless and network providers applying for rights-of-way in these jurisdictions, comments Vince Aragona, CEO of Neo Network Development. Our platform provides data for over 23,000 jurisdictions, allowing carriers to know which communities welcome their investments and where deployments meet existing and available rights-of-way or not. As a result, agencies can actively market and make their communities available to the carriers, offering a streamlined application and review process all while reducing the burden on administrators and taxpayers. Its a win-win for technology deployments as well as communities that want to improve connectivity for their constituents.

Agencies that use the Open Access platform are provided a thorough and effective application and review process that simplifies the process of approving communications infrastructure solutions. Through use of the platform, jurisdictions gain greater insights into the economic development benefits and community value of advanced technology while benefiting from the ability to identify new revenue opportunities that may otherwise be overlooked or undervalued.

In addition to the platform, Neo Network productizes access at the portfolio level, delivering and marketing these assets and their associated business terms to all interested service providers and operators. As sites are selected and reserved, Neo Network facilitates the leasing, zoning, planning and permitting process and manages the asset base throughout the lease term. Neo Network even offers optional turnkey deployment services, build-to-suit fiber connectivity and carrier project financing.