By Mark Ambrogi
Zayo Group is in the process of installing small cell equipment to enhance mobile coverage.
Zayo, a high-speed fiber optic utility regulated under the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, is installing five FCC-approved antennas at the top of decorative steel poles throughout Zionsville. The poles are designed to provide enhanced data and voice traffic for cell providers, especially during peak use times.
The five locations for the poles are the east side of Willow Road at Summersong Road; south side of Willow Road at US 421; east side of Elm Street south of Ash Street; south side of Oak Street at the alley one-half block east of Main Street; and the southwest corner of Main and Sycamore streets, where the new pole is replacing a wooden pole.
With the growing demand for data services, 911 enhancements and increasing use of smartphones and tablets, existing large carrier towers cannot support its customers during high peak times in certain areas due to coverage issues.
Shannon Paulk, Zayo’s director of corporate communications, said the work, which began the week of Aug. 28, is expected to take two weeks.
“The small cell sites are to support one of Zayo’s wireless customers that has service in the area,” Paulk said. “The sites are in areas that have high volume usage for that wireless carrier.”
While Paulk declined to name the carrier.
“Small cell sites typically go live once construction is finished,” Paulk said. “The go-live date decision is made by the wireless carrier. Once live, the sites will improve cellular service, meaning improved cell coverage, more reliable networks, faster data speeds and more reliable 911 service.”
Paulk said customers will receive the same service until the cell sites go live.
“As this is a private utility project, the town does not serve in the capacity of public outreach officer when utilities have projects, and this was not discussed at a public meeting,” said Lance Lantz, superintendent of streets and stormwater services. “Although Zayo had applied for a permit to perform work within a public right of way, we were not made aware of any specific start date until two days before they began. Zayo was quick to offer a decorative pole option, which town officials felt would be more aesthetically pleasing. If a community must have these advancing technologies provided by outside utilities, at least they can look as good as possible.”
Zionsville officials said at a Town Council meeting Sept. 6 that they received questions and concerns from several residents in the area. Deputy Mayor Ed Mitro said that they worked with Zayo for the new poles to be green decorative light poles instead of wooden ones, and they’re looking at the possibility of shifting the one on Elm Street further south into the park area.
Instead of wooden poles, they will be on green decorative light poles.
