Regional telecom operator Ntelos expanded the reach of its LTE network to more than 81,000 potential wireless customers in portions of Roanoke, Va., and Charleston, W.Va. The expansion included enabling LTE services on 26 cell sites.
The service expansion is part of Ntelos’ recently announced $175 million investment plans for its western Virginia and West Virginia markets that saw the company sell off its eastern assets to T-Mobile US for $56 million. Ntelos also announced last month plans to sell up to 103 of its tower sites for $41 million.
Ntelos has seen its competitive position threatened over the past year, as many of its larger rivals have expanded coverage into rural markets. Ntelos signaled a change of direction last summer when long-time CEO James Hyde left the company just as the carrier posted mixed second-quarter financial results. Hyde had overseen dramatic moves by the company, including its decision in late 2010 to split up its wireline and wireless divisions, as well as signing the network deal with long-time network partner Sprint, which runs through 2022.
Ntelos has moved to diversify its offerings and partnerships, announcing an expansion last year of a fixed LTE deployment with Dish Network. The service, which was initially announced in 2013, uses LTE technology in the 2.5 GHz spectrum band, which Ntelos controls, to connect to outdoor routers that receive signals from Ntelos’ tower sites.
In other wireless carrier news:
• Alaska’s General Communication Inc. completed its $300 million purchase of Alaska Communication Group’s stake in their Alaska Wireless Network joint venture, bringing full control of the operations under General Communication.
The deal will see GCI pick up ACG’s approximately 109,000 wireless customers, bolstering its mobile customer base to approximately 250,000 subscribers and reinforcing its position as the state’s No. 2 operator. Those customers are expected to be transitioned to GCI’s network by the end of the first quarter.
GCI also will gain full control of the AWN venture, which was formed in 2012. The venture was created to design and operate a statewide wireless network providing “next-generation” services to GCI and ACG customers, with both companies continuing to market and sell services independently. GCI and ACG contributed their respective wireless assets to the venture, including spectrum licenses, cell sites, backhaul capabilities, switching systems and other assets. Wireless licenses involved in the transitions included spectrum across the 850 MHz, 1.7/2.1 GHz and 1.9 GHz bands.
GCI, which provides cable television, fiber-based broadband, satellite and wireless services, in 2007 acquired state rival Alaska Wireless.
• U.S. Cellular recently cut pricing on its Simple Connect Prepaid plans, now providing unlimited domestic calling minutes, messaging and 1 gigabyte of unthrottled data for $45 per month; 2 GB of unthrottled data for $55 per month; or 4 GB of unthrottled data for $65 per month. The carrier also said that for a limited time new customers will receive a $50 voucher to use to either pay for service or buy accessories.
U.S. Cellular reported the loss of 2,000 prepaid customers during the third quarter of last year, despite a decrease in year-over-year churn.
The prepaid market has continued to see increased competition from larger operators like T-Mobile US, AT&T Mobility’s Cricket brand and Sprint.
• A San Francisco-based law firm announced plans to file a class-action lawsuit against TracFone Wireless tied to advertised claims of access to “unlimited” data services that then had speeds limited once a certain threshold was reached.
The firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein said it expects to file a $40 million claim against TracFone, which offers services under its own brand as well as Straight Talk, Net10, Telcel America and Simple Mobile. The firm cited a recent move by the Federal Trade Commission in taking mobile carriers to task for unlimited data claims.
The FTC last year filed a court complaint against AT&T Mobility over the mobile operator’s throttling of data speeds for “unlimited” data customers. The court action, which was coordinated with the Federal Communications Commission, alleges “unfair and deceptive” practices tied to the unlimited data claim.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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