Alcatel-Lucent to Rollout 4G LTE Network Pioneer Cellular

Alcatel-Lucent is all set to rollout a 4G LTE (News - Alert) network in Oklahoma and Kansas with Pioneer Cellular, an affiliate of Pioneer Telephone Cooperative.

As part of the arrangement, Alcatel-Lucent is providing Pioneer Cellular with an end-to-end 4G LTE overlay solution 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.

Thanks to 4G LTE overlay network, Pioneer Cellular will be able to offer ultra-broadband mobile access to its customers and higher quality service for video, gaming and Internet connectivity on smartphones and tablets.

“Rural operators like Pioneer face specific challenges in serving rural areas. Pioneer Cellular is a customer driven organization with a corporate mission to provide the best service possible to our wireless customers in areas where most carriers have chosen not to provide advanced services,” said Richard Ruhl, general manager of Pioneer, in a statement.

Ruhl said the new 4G LTE Core Network will allow Pioneer to provide the customers with high quality mobile and fixed ultra-broadband services.

Pioneer with the support of Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) will offer LTE based mobile service to its entire customer base covering 47 counties in Oklahoma and 14 counties in Kansas.

Officials with Pioneer said that the initial 25 sites to be deployed will be completed by the end of 2014, with an ultimate plan to cover the company’s entire network.

Charles Marsh, president of Alcatel-Lucent's Americas region, said that Alcatel-Lucent enjoys a strong and positive 20-year working relationship with Pioneer.

Marsh said this announcement extends that partnership further, demonstrating the importance of 4G LTE for Pioneer's customers and the rural marketplace in general.

Earlier in July, America Movil, the world’s third largest wireless service provider, had announced that it has selected Alcatel-Lucent to rollout a 4G LTE network in the Dominican Republic.

Alcatel-Lucent is supplying the America Movil subsidiary Claro (News - Alert) Dominican Republic with its 4G LTE network overlay solution, enabling faster deployment of ultra-broadband mobile access services including high-definition video and video-on-demand, 10 times-faster high-speed navigation, high definition videoconferencing and online gaming.