C Spire improves mobile broadband speeds and prepares network for coming 5G era
Telcom company installs new, next-generation cellular base stations and software in its 1,200-plus cell sites
RIDGELAND, Miss., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers and businesses are experiencing a 15 to 20 percent improvement in mobile broadband speeds throughout much of C Spire's wireless network – thanks to installation of new base stations and software that will serve as the foundation for the company's transition to the next generation of cellular technology.
C Spire, a Mississippi-based telecommunications and technology services company, operates the nation's largest privately- owned mobile services firm and is in the final stages of work on the multi-million-dollar project with completion expected by the end of this month.
The firm has spent much of 2019 upgrading the 1,200-plus cell sites in its wireless network and laying the groundwork for the next phase of mobile communications, which promises to transform how consumers live, work and play and how businesses thrive in the new 21st century digital economy.
"We are uniquely positioned with low, mid and high-band spectrum to ensure that we design and engineer a network that is truly customer inspired and fully meets customer needs for speed, latency and coverage," said Alan Jones, senior vice president of Access and Deployment for C Spire.
Before the company starts rolling out next generation cellular technology, though, it must have the new, updated base stations and software that will enable a smooth transition from current 4G LTE technology and maximum flexibility and efficiency for use of precious spectrum resources.
"We're using carrier aggregation technology, which brings together spectrum from multiple frequency bands for improved speed and spectral efficiency, and other software and hardware improvements to achieve better speeds and pave the way for Voice over LTE or high-definition mobile voice service," Jones added.
The new base stations are adaptable, powerful and able to meet C Spire's future needs for a next generation cellular network, software-defined services and the Internet of Things. "Not only does this new technology deliver high quality connectivity and coverage, but it helps us quickly evolve our network to meet changing requirements," Jones said.
New mobile networks are expected to be the foundation for advances in smart home applications, smart manufacturing, smart cities and broader Internet of Things technology, including humanoid robotics, connected cars, remote surgery, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
"Imagine downloading a 4K movie in seconds or watching video in a crowded football stadium with no buffering," Jones said. "That's the potential, the promise and the challenge of 5G. We need to chart an intelligent, timely and efficient path from 4G LTE to 5G that makes this a reality."
Some analysts are forecasting the IoT market to grow to $520 billion by 2021 and the number of cellular IoT connections to reach 3.5 billion by 2023. "The potential is mind-boggling – so we have to make sure we have the right technology and the right network to support all of that activity," Jones added.
As a part of the C Spire Tech Movement to build a better future through technology, education and innovation, 5G could help close the digital divide that limits innovation and opportunity in rural areas of the U.S. The technology could pave the way for new education possibilities, opportunities for rural farmers and small-town entrepreneurs while giving working people greater access to healthcare and near instant connections to friends and family.
Earlier this year, C Spire formed a consortium with Airspan Networks, Microsoft, Nokia and Siklu to test and deploy a variety of broadband technologies and new business models for use by regional fixed and wireless internet service providers, utilities and others to help improve broadband connectivity and adoption in rural areas.
To learn more about C Spire 5G, visit www.cspire.com/5G. To learn more about the C Spire Tech Movement, visit www.cspire.com/techmvmt. To learn more about the C Spire Rural Broadband Consortium, visit www.cspire.com/rural-broadband-consortium.
About C Spire
C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.
SOURCE C Spire
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