UScellular has announced that it has received full access to the 5G ‘C-band’ spectrum in the 3.7GHz-3.98GHz range it was awarded following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Auction 107 in Q1 2021, allowing the company to expand its 5G network faster than anticipated. Earlier this year, UScellular upgraded 440 cell sites in preparation for this spectrum access, and the company will switch on an enhanced 5G service in the coming weeks – three months ahead of schedule – bringing faster data speeds and greater network capacity.

CTO Mike Irizarry said: ‘This early access to our C-band spectrum allows us to accelerate our plans and bring a superior network experience to more mobile and Home Internet customers earlier than expected.’ The upgrades will build on UScellular’s recent 5G mid-band network launch that kicked off in ten states earlier this year.

TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database says that UScellular acquired 254 C-band licences in Auction 107 at a cost of USD1.46 billion and subsequently spent USD580 million on 380 3.45GHz licences in Auction 110 in Q4 2021, before enlisting Ericsson in May 2022 to assist with the deployment of the C-band and 3.45GHz spectrum.