Cellular South taps Samsung for LTE plans

The push for LTE in rural markets gained further momentum as Cellular South Inc. reported a partnership with Samsung Telecommunications America to build an LTE network using the carrier’s 700 MHz spectrum holdings. In addition to the network, Samsung will also provide a pair of LTE-enabled smart phones compatible with the network next year.
Cellular South spent $192 million for 700 MHz licenses covering large portions of Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama during the Federal Communications Commission’s Auction 73 in 2008.
In addition to the data services native to the LTE technology, Cellular South also said it plans to launch a voice-over LTE service by the end of next year allowing the operator to carry both voice and data traffic over the LTE network. Samsung added that its infrastructure will incorporate self-organizing networks, high efficiency multimode amplifiers and energy saving mode.
The handset pledge is of great significance to the rural cellular community, which has expressed concern that device makers might not make devices compatible with the lower portion of the 700 MHz spectrum band many of them won during the 700 MHz auction. Larger operators like Verizon Wireless (VZ) and AT&T Mobility (T) won licenses during the 700 MHz auction covering the upper portions of the 700 MHz band that they are using or plan to use for their LTE networks.
Verizon Wireless has said it plans to cover 38 markets and dozens of airports with LTE services by the end of the year and is expected to show off LTE devices at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January.
MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) recently was the first domestic carrier to launch LTE services using Samsung equipment as well as the company’s Craft feature phone that includes a QWERTY keyboard. The carrier said it plans to roll out more advanced devices on its network next year as well as a VoLTE solution to carry voice traffic.
Fellow rural operator Bluegrass Cellular announced earlier this month that it would partner with Verizon Wireless through its LTE in Rural America program to build out an LTE network in Bluegrass Cellular’s markets in central Kentucky using Verizon Wireless’ upper C-block 700 MHz spectrum. Verizon Wireless spent nearly $10 billion acquiring 700 MHz spectrum licenses during the 2008 auction.