Buggs Island Telephone Selects Airspan Networks for Stimulus Build

Source: Airspan Press Release

Airspan Networks Inc., a provider of broadband wireless access networks, and Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative (BIT) announced the selection of Airspan 4G equipment for deployment in southern Virginia, USA.

BIT received two grants which will be used for infrastructure to deliver wireless broadband Internet access to residents and businesses in fifteen counties in south central Virginia. The grants include a government Broadband Stimulus award of $18.9 million dollars by the United States Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications & Information Administration as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and a $3.9 million dollars grant from Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

The project will provide 100 percent coverage of residents and businesses in the Federal Communications Commission licensed serving area, offering a minimum of 1.5 Mbps of service and up to 10 Mbps. The primary deployment phase will be completed within 12 months and has a projected subscriber base of upward of 30,000 customers within five years. Availability of access to broadband connectivity is one of the key elements for economic growth in the region. In addition, by creating this new business division, BIT will create 64 direct new jobs -- mostly in Mecklenburg and Brunswick Counties.

This next-generation dual-band network operates in both 700 megahertz (MHz) and 3.65 gigahertz (GHz) frequency bands. Due to its natural propagation characteristics, the 700 MHz product allows for optimum coverage and range, requiring fewer base stations and minimizing deployment costs.