Cincinnati Bell said today it will expand broadband coverage in 17 greater Cincinnati, Dayton and Hawaiian counties, using spectrum that it won in the recent CBRS auction, Auction 105. Cincinnati Bell CBRS winnings include 56 Priority Access Licenses (PALs).
The carrier plans to use the spectrum to offer fixed wireless high-speed Internet and voice access to its business and residential customers outside the company’s 17,000-mile fiber network in greater Cincinnati and Hawaii.
“Cincinnati Bell understands broadband connectivity is mission critical in order to maximize economic development, education, and quality of life initiatives across our footprint in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Hawaii. This reality has been reinforced by the current work from home and remote learning environments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tom Simpson, Cincinnati Bell Inc. chief operating officer, in a prepared statement about Cincinnati Bell CBRS winnings. “Cincinnati Bell looks forward to leveraging these wireless spectrum licenses to deliver more broadband connectivity to more individuals and businesses across our footprint in Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, and Hawaii.”
Cincinnati Bell noted that it has built out a small cell network of 250-plus sites with a large unnamed wireless operator. Through the end of last year, the company provided cell site back-haul services to approximately nine out of 10 of the 1,000 cell sites in the greater Cincinnati market, as well as eight out of 10 of the 1,100 cell sites in Hawaii.
Other recent Cincinnati Bell news included announcing partnerships with Butler Rural Electrical Co-Op and YouTube.
