Appalachian Wireless, a unit of East Kentucky Network (EKN), has enlisted Ericsson to oversee a multi-year RAN modernization project which will bring 5G technology to underserved communities in Appalachia. 

Appalachian Wireless aims to become the first regional carrier to implement 5G Standalone (SA) technology as it seeks to bridge the digital divide in rural America. The 5G contract will run for three years, although the majority of the upgrades will be in place by end-2024. Mike Johnson, CEO at Appalachian Wireless, commented: ‘For over three decades, we’ve been committed to bringing connectivity to customers in eastern Kentucky. No other carrier cares for Appalachia as we do, and we look forward to joining forces with Ericsson to meet the region’s growing needs as we prepare to deploy 5G.’

East Kentucky Network (EKN) was established in 1990 and offers mobile services in 25 counties in eastern Kentucky and two counties in Virginia via more than 300 cell sites and a 400-mile redundant fibre ring. The company is owned by five rural telcos, namely: Coalfields Telephone, Foothills Rural Telephone, Mountain Rural Telephone, Peoples Rural Telephone and Thacker-Grigsby Telephone.

TeleGeography notes that East Kentucky Network acquired 5G-suitable licences in both Auction 107 (3.7GHz) and Auction 110 (3.45GHz), paying the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) around USD11.8 million for the frequencies.