C Spire boosts wireless 4G LTE network performance

C Spire announced recently that it has doubled the bandwidth and power throughout much of its 4G LTE+ network, resulting in faster peak speeds and better overall coverage for consumers.

The telecom and technology services company, which operates one of the nation's largest privately held wireless communications unit, said its "Covered in Blue" network enhancement and expansion initiative has improved average mobile broadband speeds for consumers by 71 percent, rivaling speeds offered by many fixed broadband Internet service providers.

In the last six months, the company has doubled the wireless spectrum on 604 of its 681 4G LTE+ cell sites in Mississippi, boosted power on 397 cell sites and expanded 4G+ LTE coverage to 115 new cell sites along with a myriad of other improvements to routers, switches, processors and cell site equipment to enhance overall network performance.

"We offer the only national 4G LTE+ network inspired by the customers we serve," said Gregg Logan, chief technology officer for C Spire. "And just like our deep, local roots, our network is getting bigger, faster and stronger every day. At C Spire, we're never content with a good network. Our customers deserve a great network and we're never going to rest on our laurels."

Logan said new research by the Pew Center shows that more than half of smartphone owners in the U.S. have used their devices in the last year to get health information, conduct online banking, research places to live and government services, take online education courses and even apply for a job.

"Mobile connections are an essential part of our communications infrastructure and are only going to grow in importance as devices get more sophisticated and help consumers better manage and direct every aspect of their personal and professional lives," he said. "The greatest invention of the 20th century deserves the very best network we can provide to reach its full potential."

Logan said C Spire is committed to continuous improvement as it offers new products and expands into new lines of telecommunications and technology services, including fixed super high-speed broadband Internet for consumers and enterprise-grade data, dedicated Internet access and cloud services for businesses.

The company's Fiber to the Home technology initiative in Mississippi offers ultra-fast Gigabit speed Internet connections, super HD TV and phone service in four cities and will expand in three additional cities by the end of the year. The 100 times faster Internet already has resulted in the company becoming the top Internet service provider in the state, according to Seattle-based Ookla, which measures broadband Internet connection speeds worldwide, according to Logan.

C Spire has extended its vast fiber optic infrastructure in Mississippi by nearly 35 percent in the last 18 months, adding nearly 2,000 route miles of long haul distribution fiber, paving the way for enhanced services for thousands of consumers and businesses in the state, including the recent upgrades to the company's wireless network, he said.

In addition, the company operates a new $23 million, world-class commercial data center in Starkville, Mississippi – the only one of its class and capability within 250 miles of its location - offering businesses, government agencies and other entities colocation, managed hosting, computing, storage, disaster recovery, enterprise applications and network connectivity. The center promises to boost regional business technology infrastructure and spur new investment and expansion opportunities.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant praised C Spire for its continuing technology investment and leadership. "The availability of high-speed Internet is critical to Mississippians and is especially critical to the state's economic development efforts," Bryant said. "I thank C Spire for the investments they are making in this important technology so residents can compete, grow and prosper."