Five cell towers built by Wireless Partners, LLC are ready to go into service in Essex County, Vermont. A state grant of $762,662 will bring 5G connectivity to the towns of Averill, Canaan, Norton, Warren’s Gore and Wenlock by mid-December, reports MyChamplainValley.com. The grant is part of the CARES Act funding. An existing Wireless Partners network in Coos Valley, New Hampshire will connect to the new towers in Vermont.
“We focus on making investments in rural and ultra-rural markets with our own capital,” said Wireless Partners CEO Bob Parsloe. “We think we’re well-suited to bringing this level of broadband to these types of markets; we’ve been doing it already.” Parsloe added that, “From day one, consumers will be able to get some pretty remarkable broadband speeds off of this. The performance will be true broadband.”
Broadband access has become more prevalent throughout the region, according to MyChamplainValley.com. The grant funding will allow Wireless Partners to connect to the internet service from Consolidated Communications and T-Mobile 5G phone service that is already available in some neighboring towns. Parsloe also noted the proximity of the Northeast Kingdom Communications District. Although no agreement is currently in place, the CEO believes there is an opportunity to combine forces with other providers in Vermont.
“We have an understanding of what they’re doing adjacent to us,” he said. “And in any cases that they have network services that we can utilize, they’ll be absolutely considered to provide services. Conversely, if they look to us to provide services to any of their markets, we’d be wide open to that.”
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