The fixed mobile broadband service nTelos and Dish Network began trials of in 2013 is scheduled for a commercial launch in July.
nTelos CEO James Hyde last week said during his company’s earnings call that the regional carrier had re-engaged with Dish following the H Block auction about preparations for phase 2 of the market trial, according to a Seeking Alpha transcript.
Hyde said core network elements are “substantially complete” and that the companies are “pushing the back-office setup work.” He added that the companies expect the trial network will cover nearly 500,000 POPs, with customers welcomed by July.
In October, the two companies were targeting early 2014 for a rollout of the service.
Dish and nTelos last year announced the fixed mobile broadband partnership and shortly after revealed that a trial network in Virginia was pulling speeds of 20-50 Mbps using nTelos’ 2.5 GHz wireless BRS spectrum.
The companies activated two wireless tower test sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains using Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson equipment. The broadband antenna used by Dish can be installed directly next to Dish’s TV satellite.
Similar to its deal with nTelos, Dish in December announced plans to enter into a fixed mobile broadband trial with Sprint. The companies planned for the trial network to start by mid-2014 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
