Ericsson and UScellular Partner to Upgrade Rural 5G Infrastructure

In a move to help bridge the digital divide in rural America, Ericsson and UScellular announced infrastructure upgrades to boost 5G transport infrastructure and improve high-speed internet access in underserved areas.

The enhancement involves deploying Ericsson (News - Alert)'s advanced Router 6000 series, including the newly introduced Router 6671, to optimize the use of mid-band spectrum for radio access networks (RAN), which is crucial for delivering high-speed, high-capacity 5G services.

"This collaboration is about more than just connectivity – it's about empowering communities while boosting local economies and enabling modern digital services," said Narothum Saxena, Vice President of Technology, Strategy, and Architecture at UScellular. "From supporting Fixed Wireless Access solutions and enhancing mobility to improving access to essential services like online education and healthcare, together with Ericsson we are committed to transforming rural America's digital landscape."

The Router 6000 series, already in use across UScellular's network, offers essential transport capacity and advanced features like low power consumption and certified security. These make efficient and sustainable network performance, particularly in rural and suburban areas possible.

The new Router 6671 includes enhanced backhaul capabilities, site deployment flexibility, and port speeds while providing improved synchronization for better RAN performance. It allows the network to handle high traffic volumes and improve synchronization, which makes it possible to support advanced 5G applications such as precision agriculture, remote education, and telemedicine.

"While we make technology, connecting people, allowing them to accelerate their business is at the heart of our purpose," said Bill Chotiner, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Customer Unit Regional Customers, Ericsson North America. "By using our advanced Router 6671 alongside New Radio Time Division Duplexing (NR TDD) technology, UScellular is delivering unprecedented connectivity and broadband speeds in its markets. While this is a technological advancement, we're even more proud of what this means for the people and communities who are now enabled and empowered with expanded and enhanced connectivity. This continued collaboration is a bold step forward and part of bringing an even better 5G experience to more communities in America."