YORK, Maine – Can you hear me now?
The city council claims to have a solution to the widespread problem of dead spots in York, which can be implemented anywhere there is a light on a telephone pole.
Streetlight small cells, devices mounted on streetlights, could soon provide 5G coverage within about a quarter-mile radius. The city council has decided, subject to legal review, to enter into a contract with the company Ubicquia to install these devices throughout the city.
The deal costs the city nothing and even earns it a small licensing fee for each device, said York IT manager Alex Gagnon. Ubicquia, a company in Rumford, Maine, has already received rave reviews for using small cells to improve cell reception throughout the city.
The deal with Ubicquia comes after city officials, residents and outside companies like Vertex Towers and AT&T spent years trying to address the city’s lack of cell coverage. Attempts to build cell towers have failed in York in the past, and residents who opposed them have urged the city to test small-cell technology instead.
“Of course, everyone knows that there is a lack of cell reception in York,” said Gagnon. “We are trying to find a solution to fill that gap.”
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Ubicquia, an alternative to towers across the country
According to the memo accompanying the contract to the city council, city officials are already looking for ways to improve service in the city. Service is particularly poor during the summer months due to the influx of tourists, they said.
“There is a saturation effect where you can’t even send a text message or make a phone call in certain areas,” Gagnon said.
The service problems are not limited to the beach. At the newly renovated City Hall, Joseph said calls and messages are delayed or not coming through at all.
“When someone tries to reach me, it takes all day for me to get a text message,” Joseph said.
Gagnon joked that it was because Joseph didn’t have an iPhone, but also recounted his own struggles with connectivity. Recently, after a car accident, he had difficulty communicating with a York police officer who ultimately had to drive back to the station to continue the conversation.
“In some cases, I think not having insurance coverage poses a safety risk,” Gagnon said.
Ubicquia, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is already working with the streetlight small cell technology in more than 800 cities, including 15 of the 30 largest cities by population. Gagnon said he learned about it through his hometown of Rumford.
Gagnon said he reached out to Rumford City Manager George O’Keefe, who said improving downtown coverage had gone “smoothly.”
Once the contract is signed, Ubicquia completes the implementation of the service by working with Central Maine Power to obtain approval to mount the equipment on poles. CMP bills Ubicquia monthly based on electricity usage.
The devices use fiber optics already present on telephone poles across York, Gagnon said. Ubicquia is working with wireless carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular and T-Mobile to provide the service. They also handle installation and are responsible for any technical or hardware issues that may arise.
According to Joseph and Gagnon, the small cells will not be visible on street lamps and are much smaller than other devices commonly referred to as “small cells.”
“These should not be called small cells. They should be nanocells,” Joseph said.
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City officials await impact of Ubicquia deal
The deal with Ubicquia has sparked interest from at least one resident. Mac Booze said during a public hearing that he was curious to see if the devices would actually improve York’s service during the busy summer season.
“There are two things, one is coverage density and the other is performance,” Booze said. “Will implementing these technologies solve both problems?”
When asked by Booze if there would be a “significant difference,” Joseph said, “Possibly.”
“I can’t guarantee it will be marked,” he said.
Board members were optimistic that the contract would be worthwhile. According to Joseph, the project still requires approval from the city at the construction and planning level.
“This increases the likelihood that they (have insurance coverage),” said Selectboard member Robert Palmer.
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