ExteNet Systems is teaming up with California-based Cal.net, a wireless internet service provider, to bring wireless broadband connectivity to customers in and around Sacramento on a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Part 96-ready LTE network.
There is still debate surrounding rule changes to the CBRS 3.5 GHz band, but vendors continue to push ahead with commercialization efforts.
The CBRS 96-ready LTE fixed wireless access (FWA) network will be one of the first networks in the 3550-3700 MHz band.
Cal.net, based in Shingle Springs, Calif., delivers broadband internet services to rural communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills ranging from the northeast to the southeast of Sacramento.
“There remains a significant disparity in access to high-speed reliable broadband wireless service outside the big cities and towns today,” ExteNet CTO Tormod Larsen noted. “Data usage is ingrained in our work and in our lifestyle, and it’s important that network access for modern data-centric living is not confined to urban environments. We are extremely pleased to extend our distributed network (DNS) solutions, including Small Cells and virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC), to enable our Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offering for Cal.net and lay the foundation for a fixed wireless service for its customers and help bridge the digital divide in its service areas.”
ExteNet said in the near term, CBRS Part 96-ready networks will accelerate in-building and outdoor broadband wireless deployments in the industry as a number of WISPs and other providers move from proprietary FWA technology to standards-based LTE fixed wireless service on CBRS.
“Cal.net has forever been committed to providing our customers across rural California with broadband service,” said Ken Garnett, Chief Technology Officer of Cal.net. “ExteNet’s proven track record in deploying, and operating, a packaged Small Cell and Distributed EPC made them the perfect partner for us. We have plans for over 350 sites in staggered deployment phases for this new LTE fixed wireless service over CBRS shared spectrum and we are excited about the enhanced speed, bandwidth and reliability that this network will deliver to thousands of our residential and business customers.”
