Chariton Valley Communications became the 11th rural carrier to join Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) rural LTE program.
Based in Macon, Mo., Chariton Valley is a long-time telecom provider and operates both wireline voice and broadband, wireless and video networks.
"The LTE in Rural America program allows Chariton Valley's customers to receive the same 4G wireless technology that is offered in major metropolitan areas and complements our existing wireless offerings," Chariton Valley General Manager Jim Simon said in a press release.
As with all of Verizon's rural deals, Verizon Wireless is leasing 700 MHz wireless spectrum to Chariton Valley, which will in turn build out its five-county rural territory with an LTE network.
Other Verizon rural LTE partners include Custer Telephone, Carolina West Wireless, S and R Communications, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellcom, Cross Wireless, Pioneer Cellular, Strata Networks, Thumb Cellular and Convergence Technologies.
In related news, new research from the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) indicates that rural telecom providers are increasingly interested in offering wireless service. The study showed that 61 percent of the NTCA members questioned offer wireless service. In addition 45 percent of questioners aren't offering wireless service, but are considering doing so. That number of 33 percent in 2009.
For more:
- see this Telecompetitor article
- see this other Telecompetitor article
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