Alcatel-Lucent is planning to deploy a complete LTE overlay network in the Midwestern US states of Oklahoma and Kansas to enable Pioneer Cellular, an affiliate of Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, to offer ultra-broadband mobile access to its customers, according to Telecompaper.com on Aug 12, 2014. The LTE deployment with Alcatel-Lucent will enable Pioneer Cellular to offer LTE-based mobile service to its entire customer base covering 47 counties in Oklahoma and 14 counties in Kansas.

An initial 25 deployment sites will be completed by the end of the year, with an eventual plan to cover all of Pioneer\'s network. Alcatel-Lucent is providing Pioneer Cellular with an end-to-end LTE overlay network, including LTE Radio Access Network, IP Mobile Packet Core (MME, SGW/PGW, PCRF), Subscriber Data Manager, IP Mobile Backhaul (7705 SAR) and associated deployment and integration services.