US Cellular to use Ericsson routers for rural 5G network expansion

Regional carrier US carrier US Cellular has picked Ericsson to support its 5G network infrastructure upgrade in rural areas, leveraging Ericsson's Router 6000 portfolio, including model 6671, to bolster its 5G transport infrastructure.

Narothum Saxena, vice president of technology, strategy, and architecture at US Cellular said: “This collaboration is about more than just connectivity – it’s about empowering communities while boosting local economies and enabling modern digital services. From supporting Fixed Wireless Access solutions and enhancing mobility to improving access to essential services like online education and healthcare, together with Ericsson we are committed to transforming rural America’s digital landscape.”

Ericsson noted that its cell-site router technology can provide the "necessary transport infrastructure for efficient utilization of mid-band spectrum for radio access network (RAN) deployment."  The routers are designed with deployments in rural locations in mind, said Ericsson, stating that they can provide secure backhaul, site deployment flexibility, optimized port speeds and density for traffic aggregation, and advanced synchronization for superior RAN performance.