URBANDALE, IA – March 25, 2015 – iWireless is investing more than $35 million to enhance its wireless network in Iowa. The company will launch LTE in 2015, and will expand its LTE network in 2016. In addition to launching LTE, iWireless will also modernize and improve its 2G and 3G/4G networks in Iowa.
iWireless selected Nokia Networks for this two-year LTE build-out and network enhancement project. Nokia Networks is a leading supplier of end-to-end network solutions for wireless providers around the world.
With the new LTE network, iWireless customers will enjoy advanced communication services and improved data capacity, quality and speed. iWireless will launch LTE in the following cities in the second half of 2015: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Marshalltown, Muscatine, and the Quad Cities (Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL).
In addition to covering larger cities in Iowa, iWireless will also be expanding LTE to its rural footprint, covering towns and regions along key travel routes I-80; I-35; I-380; U.S. Highway 30 (between Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown); and U.S. Highway 20 (between Waterloo and Dubuque). See map below for towns and regions included in the iWireless future LTE expansion.
Key points about the iWireless LTE network build-out:
- LTE is a wireless broadband technology that enables high speed data access through mobile devices. LTE provides faster connections, increased data speeds and greater capacity.
- Through a partnership with T-Mobile, iWireless customers will enjoy the benefits of an advanced nationwide LTE network.
“It’s an exciting time for iWireless, and we are pleased to bring LTE technology to our customers both urban and rural,” said J. Craven Shumaker, President and CEO of iWireless. “Our customers have a growing need and demand for data, and the transition to LTE will provide them with a more reliable and faster experience on our network. Nokia Networks’ innovative solutions and expertise, coupled with the fact that they have been a long-standing partner, make them the ideal choice as iWireless’ technology evolution supplier.”