Comments on: Pioneer launches rural LTE over Verizon spectrum

By: Glenn Gore

Glenn Gore — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:15:46 +0000

Pioneer has had EVDO/3G service here for years. Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular have no coverage here at all, and AT&T and T-Mobile only offer GPRS and/or EDGE, no 3G. In rural areas all around the country there are small regional carriers that have been doing a great job serving their customers with the latest technology, taking the risk and making money from customer appreciation and loyalty. It’s great to see.

By: Kevin Fitchard

Kevin Fitchard — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:03:48 +0000

Hi Glenn,

It is shocking how quickly LTE is spreading isn’t it? How long did it take Pioneer to get EV-DO in your area? It seems like the spread of LTE from urban areas to small towns to rural areas is happening much faster than with 3G.

By: Glenn Gore

Glenn Gore — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:05:30 +0000

Verizon spent a considerable amount of money on the licenses the regional carriers are using in this program, so it’s not like Verizon isn’t contributing to the program. The regional carriers DID spend money building their systems in their areas, while the majors decided they were not economical enough for them, and these regionals seem to be doing a pretty good job of it, at least Pioneer is in my area, they are by far the best in terms of coverage and speed. Some may get snapped up by Verizon, but that’s business, nothing wrong with that.

All the previous efforts by government to get high-speed broandband out into the hinterlands have been complete failures, and Verizon’s LTE overlay along with the LTEiRA program will have accomplished this goal by the middle of 2013. And as a resident of the area, I am completely happy with that.

By: John B

John B — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:04:23 +0000

Last year when the story broke of this program developed by Verizon, I was in fear of long term effects.

Today, I still feel this is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Yes, initially the small rural carriers placate from such deal. However, we have seen the regression in viable competiton. The small carriers have become the victims of this sequential reality. Who has better opportunity in vacuuming up these smaller carriers in the event of such failures? Verizon has essentially succeeded in gaining an extreme advantage in positioning themselves for complete takeover of these carriers knowing their complete compatibilities without spending a dime to buildout the network.

I fear this day as we need more competition:; not less.

John B.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:59:35 +0000

As a resident of Pioneer’s part of the world, I am thrilled at this news. There is nothing on Pioneer’s website about LTE and no announcements from them yet, but hopefully “soon”.