Ericsson and Mediacom Communications Corporation, the fifth largest cable operator in the U.S. providing services to 1.5 million homes and businesses across 22 states, are working together to extend broadband services in rural America.
Mediacom is the first major U.S. cable provider to launch a 3GPP standards-based Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) high-speed internet service leveraging Ericsson 4G and 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions.
Per Wahlen, Vice President and Head of Business Development for Ericsson North America said that this technology will be a game changer for the new communities that Mediacom is trying to reach. He further added that connecting rural America has been a significant national challenge over the past decade, and their Ericsson solutions will quickly extend the reach of Mediacom’s broadband services and close the digital divide in numerous underserved rural areas.
The Ericsson RAN solutions allow Mediacom to offer FWA high-speed internet services up to nine miles from each tower location. In turn, this will allow Mediacom to quickly and cost effectively offer broadband to thousands of new underserved homes in businesses in rural communities across Mediacom’s multi-state footprint. These efforts demonstrate Mediacom’s and Ericsson’s commitment to support federal, state and local initiatives to close the digital divide.
JR Walden, Mediacom’s Chief Technology Officer said that the ongoing COVID pandemic has demonstrated that a quality high-speed internet connection is more important than ever. He added that they are thrilled to work with a trusted partner like Ericsson to launch robust fixed wireless broadband services in areas of the country that need it the most.
