NEW ORLEANS – With many operators still not offering LTE services, rural provider Bluegrass Cellular has made the move to now offering two separate LTE networks to its customer base. Who said there is no innovation in rural America?
Bluegrass today unveiled plans for its GetSetGo wireless Internet service that will offer customers a fixed-wireless broadband serving running LTE technology across the carrier’s 700 MHz, A-Block spectrum holdings. The service will initially rely on a wireless router device, allowing customers to attach a number of mobile devices to the router for access to the LTE network. The company is touting network speeds similar to what it notes for its Verizon Wireless-related offering: 5 to 12 megabits per second on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
The offering joins the carrier’s recently launched LTE service that is part of its participation in Verizon Wireless’ LTE in Rural America program. Bluegrass was one of the first rural operators to sign up for that program back in 2010, which allows partners to lease 22 megahertz of spectrum in the upper-700 MHz band in certain markets through 2029 to help facilitate the faster rollout of its LTE services. Bluegrass noted that as part of the agreement, Verizon Wireless would not build out LTE services in those markets where a rural carrier was providing coverage and that carriers would be able to set their own pricing plans for the service, including offering unlimited data packages if they so choose.
Speaking after a carrier round-table discussion at this week’s Competitive Carriers Association event in New Orleans, Bluegrass CEO Ron Smith noted that the GetSetGo launch enables the carrier to meet build out requirements for its 700 MHz spectrum holdings while at the same time advancing its fixed broadband offering to customers. The carrier noted it began trialing the offering late last year in a couple of markets, with plans to cover 700,000 potential customers with a commercial offering by mid-year.
“I am extremely proud of our organization with the launch of our second LTE network in the past 12 months,” Smith said in a statement. “With this network, we will meet FCC mandates for the timely deployment of broadband services and expand our LTE footprint into new market areas. We look forward to expanding our products and services as the LTE product ecosystem expands, and as carrier-to-carrier LTE roaming and interoperability become a reality.”
Bluegrass explained that it will continue supporting its Verizon Wireless-related offer for the long term, targeting customers looking for handheld devices needing nationwide roaming.
“The launch of our second LTE network complements our partnership with Verizon Wireless by expanding the company’s network control capabilities and positions the company for the planned expansion of new competitive broadband products and services,” Smith added. “Our customers who need the ‘latest and greatest’ mobility products and services will be well-served with our 3G and [LTE] LRA networks and services. Our expanding broadband services focused at residential and commercial customers will find GetSetGo to be a great fit for their needs. Together, we believe these complementary offerings are the foundation for the future for Bluegrass Cellular and its customers.”
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