Working apart from Verizon, Cellular South announces LTE partnership with Samsung
In the first big partnership announcement related to its upcoming 4G LTE data network, regional wireless network operator Cellular South today said that Samsung will be providing consumer LTE hardware in its upcoming 700 MHz-band LTE network.
In an FCC filing from the Rural Cellular Association (RCA) earlier this week, Cellular South said that it would not be participating in Verizon Wireless' "Rural American Partnership" LTE licensing plan, where regional LTE networks license their coverage out to Verizon.
"Cellular South stated that Verizon's Plan provides a limited number of rural carriers with nominal opportunity to add or extend their 4G coverage in a way that only fills Verizon's coverage gaps," the statement from the RCA said. "Additionally, Lower A licensees paid a significant amount of money for their spectrum, more than
Verizon paid for the C block per MHz/pop, and have stringent geographic-based build-out requirements. Considering these strict build-out requirements, Cellular South will focus on building its own business, not helping Verizon expand its network."
Cellular South is the ninth largest mobile network operator in the United States with approximately 900,000 subscribers, and its message to the FCC asked for reform to the Universal Services Fund and improved 700 MHz interoperability regulations.
In 2008, Cellular South spent $192 million for wireless licenses in that band which cover Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, areas which have been ranked among the five states with the worst residential broadband penetration in the United States.
"Our move to 4G is driven by our vision of creating an unmatched experience and enabling our customers to experience pervasive wireless Internet connectivity and mobility," said Hu Meena, president and CEO of Cellular South in a statement Wednesday. "Cellular South is pleased to partner with Samsung Mobile on an LTE solution that uses our entire spectrum in the lower 700 MHz band. "This network will deliver a first-class LTE experience to our customers who want the freedom to access content and services and to communicate in new and innovative ways, whether it's viewing video, browsing the mobile web, listening to their favorite music, gaming or social media."
Similar to its partnership with MetroPCS, Samsung will provide Cellular South with two LTE Band Class 12 smartphones, as well as "other new and innovative network solutions operating in the 700 MHz spectrum." Cellular South expects the network to go live in the fourth quarter of 2011, and devices will support the company's EV-DO 3G network.