Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Mediacom Communications Corp., the fifth largest cable operator in the U.S. providing services to 1.5 million homes and businesses, announced that the companies are working together to extend broadband services in rural America. As such, Mediacom has become 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's 4G and 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions.
"This technology will be a game changer for the new communities that Mediacom is trying to reach," commented Per Wahlen, vice president and head of business development for Ericsson North America. Wahlen added, "Connecting rural America has been a significant national challenge over the past decade, and our 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 deployed 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, the operator said.
These efforts demonstrate Mediacom's and Ericsson's commitment to support federal, state and local initiatives to close the digital divide, added the companies.
"The ongoing COVID pandemic has demonstrated that a quality high-speed internet connection is more important than ever," concluded JR Walden, Mediacom's chief technology officer. "We 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."
Mediacom offers cable and internet services in 22 states, with its largest networks operating in Iowa and Illinois. Other coverage areas include the states of coverage in Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
For more information, visit www.ericsson.com and www.mediacomcc.com.