Ericsson, in partnership with Agri-Valley Services and NewCore Wireless, will be conducting a 4G LTE trial using the 600 MHz frequency band. To be done in the fourth quarter of 2018, the trial will take place in Caro, Michigan, and will be the first-of-its-kind with a regional carrier in the United States.
Michigan based Agri-Valley Services, is testing the performance of 600 MHz band for fixed wireless access for its subscribers. They provides residential and commercial broadband internet primarily serving Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties in the area. A successful trial would validate the commercial use of this spectrum in the regional carrier marketplace. NewCore Wireless, a leader in providing hosted solutions for regional carriers, will offer hosted core services for Agri Valley Services.
The 600 MHz low-band spectrum allows operators to extend and enhance coverage by utilizing low band radio wave propagation. For example, in rural areas more coverage can be provided per cell site, which drastically improves the economics. This enables a more competitive and ultimately a better choice of wireless service for customers.
According to Kevin Zvokel, Head of Networks, Ericsson North America, the success of this trial will be a gateway to enabling 600 MHz 4G LTE coverage to rural customers on their existing network infrastructure. It will enable more options for customers who want to choose fixed wireless access solutions.
