Mobilitie to deploy extensive fibre backbone in the Bay Area

23 February 2021 | Natalie Bannerman

Mobilitie, a privately held US telecoms infrastructure company, has announced plans to connect the San Francisco Bay Area with fibre connectivity.

The news follows Mobilitie securing the contract for this deal back in August 2020,  giving the company exclusive access to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) right of way (RoW), to deliver a next-gen fibre network to the San Francisco  Bay Area.

In addition to a new digital network which will upgrade connectivity across tunnels, stations and rail cars to deliver 5G to passenger and surrounding communities, Mobilitie is also deploying a commercial fibre network across the Bay Area, designed to connect multiple data centres and large enterprises, bringing new, diverse routes and improving broadband access.

Construction of the new 160-mile fibre backbone is currently underway and spans the Transbay Tube, an underwater rail tunnel, to connect Oakland and San Francisco. The Transbay Tube is scheduled to be completed by the end of Q2 2021 creating a new fibre asset with a unique route and improved fibre density.

The new Mobilitie fibre network will also integrate additional metro rings, helping to connect even more Bay Area data centres and commercial buildings. Once complete, the new fibre backbone will deliver connectivity to more than 30 hyperscale data centres with over 75 access points.

As well as this commercial fibre project, Mobilitie is concurrently working on four major network initiatives specific to BART. The first is underground wireless (DAS) in SFMTA tunnels in downtown San Francisco. Second is the development if wayside wireless communications towers along the rail line, next is the rollout of cellular, wifi, and CBRS across 50 stations and the BART Fleet of the Future. Last the installation of a large commercial fibre plant along the entire RoW, which will provide a high speed broadband backbone.