XO’s NextLink expands into Phoenix

XO Communications today launched broadband wireless services in Phoenix, bringing its NextLink wireless footprint to 10 major cities. XO will initially deploy in downtown Phoenix but plans its base station sites to cover the entire Phoenix metropolitan area including Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and Tempe.

XO has Local Multipoint Distribution System licenses in 75 markets—all left over from when the former NextLink tried to build a nationwide first generation broadband wireless access system for businesses. Like all of the initial BWA systems, the NextLink network never got off the ground, and when the company changed its name to XO it shelved the licenses, only to revive them again last year as an alternative to fiber and copper access in its markets.

XO has now launched wireless service in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego, Tampa and Washington, D.C.