BendBroadband, a family-owned cable operator in Central Oregon, turned on the nation’s first HSPA+ network to bring wireless Internet services to the region using AWS spectrum. Going forward, the operator plans to deploy LTE technology on its 700 MHz spectrum.
“We consider the Digital Divide essentially closed for central Oregon on Dec. 15,” said Frank Miller, CTO for BendBroadband.
The small operator increased its wireless footprint beyond its cable holdings, passing another 20,000 homes with the 17-tower wireless network, Miller said. Ericsson provided the network infrastructure equipment and a Tawainese company called Bandrich is supplying the user equipment, Miller said. The carrier also is selling a USB modem for nomadic use. Beyond increasing its footprint by about 100 miles north and south and 80 miles west and east, BendBroadband is also able to offer service to residents inside its cable footprint where previously it was uneconomical to offer service. The all IP-based network is great in that it is not bogged down with legacy equipment, but instead uses best-of-breed gear and has a seamless upgrade path to LTE, Miller noted.
The company is offering residents and businesses high-speed Internet, mobile broadband and telephone service. High-speed Internet customers will get a fixed modem, which also includes a wireless router for Wi-Fi access. “For mobile Internet, a USB device is used to access BendBroadband’s wireless broadband network virtually anywhere in Central Oregon,” the company said.
“Our significant investments in wireless service combined with our dedicated team of local employees enables us to deliver a best-of-breed broadband experience to our neighbors in the surrounding areas,” said President and CEO Amy Tykeson in a press release. “Until now, many rural Central Oregonians have had little or no access to broadband. We are proud to lead the nation with the first HSPA+ deployment with the country’s fastest wireless broadband service.”
In a drive-by test with regional reporters, Miller said the network saw speeds of 15 megabits per second driving at freeway speeds. Average download speeds have been between 6 and 8 mbps.
Pricing for the standalone service is about $40 per month for 20 GB of use and $60 for 50 GB, Miller said. In addition, the carrier is bundling services and discounting each service $10 for bundles. The carrier also plans to introduce telephone service in early 2010. The carrier plans to offer three plans, ranging from $19 to $39 per month as an alternative to traditional landline service. Miller said the company priced its services today at prices it thinks the rest of the market will offer in two to three years.
