Fiber infrastructure services provider Segra, a unit of Cox Communications, says that it has finished the initial phase of a fiber infrastructure build for DISH. The deployment supports DISH’s 5G network aspirations and has helped the communications services provider offer mobile services across more than 500 towers in less than a year.
DISH asserts it has now met a deadline established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve 20% of the U.S. population. “Thanks to Segra and our other fiber providers, DISH's Smart 5G wireless network is available to over 20% of the U.S. population in more than 120 cities across the country,” commented Dave Mayo, executive vice president of network development, DISH Wireless. “Segra has helped us connect consumers throughout Virginia and the Carolinas while meeting an extremely aggressive timeline.”
"We are pleased to execute on the first major milestone of our contracted broadband build for DISH and successfully turn over more than 500 site installations by the FCC’s deadline,” added Kevin T. Hart, Segra CEO (see "Segra names Kevin T. Hart as CEO"). “As a valued network infrastructure partner, Segra’s extensive fiber network provides the capacity, scalability, and reliability to power DISH’s growing 5G network.”
Segra is one of four fiber infrastructure suppliers DISH revealed as partners in November 2020. The others include Everstream, Uniti, and Zayo.
Cox purchased Segra in 2021 (see “Cox to acquire Segra's commercial enterprise and carrier fiber business”). The company owns and operates fiber infrastructure in nine Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. Segra provides Ethernet, MPLS, dark fiber, data center services, IP and managed services, voice, and cloud services to carriers, enterprises, governments, and higher education and healthcare organizations.