KINGFISHER, OK-APRIL 30, 2012-Pioneer Cellular, as a participant in the Verizon Wireless LTE in Rural America (LRA) program, today announced the official launch of 4G LTE service in Phase I of the Pioneer Cellular LRA coverage area. The initial Phase I LTE area encompasses 8 counties in central and western Oklahoma located adjacent to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The expanded 4G coverage is now available in the communities of Kingfisher, Okarche, Hennessey, Thomas, Watonga, and in southern and eastern Garfield County. Within the next few weeks, additional 4G coverage will include the cities of Enid, Weatherford and Clinton, along with 4G LTE coverage on Interstate-40 West from Oklahoma City to the Clinton area.
As a participant in the Verizon Wireless LRA Program, Pioneer Cellular will construct and launch a 4G LTE network in the rural counties and communities of western and southern Oklahoma over the next 10 months. Once fully completed, Pioneer’s 4G LTE network will cover more than 260,000 people in 21 counties across nearly 17,000 miles of central, western and southern Oklahoma. The new Pioneer 4G LTE network will enable Pioneer Cellular and Verizon Wireless customers to enjoy high-speed data services within Pioneer’s coverage area(s) and provide Pioneer customers with access to Verizon’s 4G LTE network throughout the United States.
4G LTE is up to 10 times faster than 3G speeds and allows streaming videos with limited buffering, or downloading and viewing full-length HD movies. Music can be downloaded in seconds. Pioneer will immediately begin offering customers 4G LTE service plans and a selection of devices such as: MiFi devices, 4G dongles, 4G gateway devices and soon to be released 4G Smartphone devices.
Richard Ruhl, General Manager of Pioneer, said “Pioneer Cellular is very pleased to officially launch 4G LTE service in the rural counties and communities we serve in Central and Western Oklahoma. Pioneer Cellular’s participation in the LRA program will benefit our wireless customers as well as Verizon Wireless’ customers by accelerating the benefits of high-speed mobile broadband to rural areas where 4G LTE mobility is not currently available.”
