C Spire launches new internet era with roll out of next-generation fixed wireless services

The new services are part of C Spire's massive broadband technology deployment announced in late September and a key element of its Tech Movement initiative, an outgrowth of its 2013 groundbreaking Fiber-to-the-Home program, one of the first of its type in the U.S. and the fastest to connect thousands of Mississippi consumers in nine communities around the state to ultra-fast Gigabit speed Internet access, digital television and home phone services. 

Starting today, over 57,000 households in 22 central and north Mississippi markets can order the super-fast internet access for $60 a month ($50 a month for C Spire wireless customers) by going online at cspire.com/homeinternet or calling toll-free at 855.CSPIRE6 (277.4736).  Another 200,000 homes will have access to the faster broadband in the coming months.  No contract is required. 

C Spire TV, the company's new streaming TV service, is available for an additional $65 a month with a standard channel package.  The service eliminates the need for users to outfit every TV with a set top box, freeing them from several hundred dollars a year in rental fees. Because it's app-based, C Spire TV allows users to watch their favorite content on virtually any screen in the home.

Meanwhile, more than 35,000 businesses in 40 markets across the state can likewise order the super-fast internet access starting today for $70 a month.  To learn if your business qualifies, visit cspire.com/business or call toll-free at 855.CSPIRE2 (277.4732).  In addition, the company is offering "fiber fast" Gigabit speed services to local business in 24 markets for as low as $200 a month.

"This new fixed wireless technology, or wireless fiber as we call it at C Spire, allows us to deploy services more quickly and efficiently to a much broader footprint with the faster, high quality internet connections and related services that customers have come to expect from us," said C Spire President Stephen Bye. "We are ushering in a new era of speed and availability for broadband internet access."

C Spire is uniquely positioned to bring consumers and businesses the benefits of the wireless fiber technology revolution, according to Bye.  The company has installed over 8,000 route miles of fiber optic infrastructure and has deployed more wireless spectrum in Mississippi that any other mobile communications carrier. The firm also was the first in the state to conduct several successful pre-5G tests during the last 18 months with technology partners where it achieved Gigabit speeds in transmitting data over wireless connections.

Fixed wireless avoids last-mile fiber construction, which can be slow and expensive, while accelerating Internet access availability in more places.  The technology also leverages the company's mobile broadband infrastructure, cell sites and spectrum to speed delivery of services to more consumers and businesses.

The new technology is the latest phase of the company's massive broadband deployment efforts. In late September, C Spire launched its home internet service offering speeds of up to 25 Mbps in 8 markets and is continuing to expand availability to another 40 markets where choices are limited or service from existing providers is slow or inadequate.

Last month, C Spire launched the first U.S. effort aimed at offering sole proprietors ranging from coffee houses and restaurants to law offices, accounting and tax services widespread access to Gigabit internet speeds in over two dozen Mississippi markets.  The company is targeting one out of every five of the state's 250,000 businesses for the service.

"As a Mississippi-based technology company, we are uniquely positioned to ensure that our state is not left behind in the technology revolution and the new digital economy," Bye said.  "The mass expansion of broadband Internet is a key part of the C Spire Tech Movement."

The C Spire Tech Movement initiative is designed to leverage the company's technology leadership and investments to help transform its service areas.  Other elements of the program include leading the development of a tech workforce in Mississippi through education initiatives, expanding tech innovation and development of a state-of-the-art digital customer care platform for customers and team members.

In recent years, C Spire's continuing technology investment has played a central role in recent state gains for average mobile and fixed broadband speeds in Mississippi.  The company became the state's fastest Internet service provider in 2014 and more than quadrupled speeds in the state following its successful FTTH initiative.

C Spire will share more details as they become available for each phase of the Tech Movement, including specific markets, pricing, speeds and other program details. In the meantime, consumers and businesses can get the latest updates, details and answers to frequently asked questions at www.cspire.com/internetlaunch.

About C Spire
C Spire is a leading technology company committed to transforming Mississippi through the C Spire Tech Movement, which includes the massive deployment of broadband internet to homes and small businesses, a state-of-the-art digital experience for its customers and team members, technology innovation leadership and the creation and retention of a 21^st century technology workforce in its region.  The company provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses.  This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.

SOURCE C Spire

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