Broadband

Ruralink Broadband, partners, deliver broadband to central Oregon via CBRS

Dec. 16, 2021

Ruralink Broadband, Inc., with the help of Japan Radio Co., Ltd. and Raycom Ventures, Inc., has launched what it calls “hybrid broadcast-broadband internet” to rural communities in the Bend-Redmond area of central Oregon.

Stephen Hardy

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Ruralink Broadband, Inc., with the help of Japan Radio Co., Ltd. (JRC) and Raycom Ventures, Inc., has launched what it calls “hybrid broadcast-broadband internet” to rural communities in the Bend-Redmond area of central Oregon. The services are delivered via private LTE technology that utilizes Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) frequencies. The deployment is the first of what Ruralink expects will be a roll out of similar capabilities in more than 50 markets across the U.S.

The collaboration combines Ruralink’s expertise as a fixed-wireless broadband network service provider with the wireless know-how of radio equipment maker JRC and its strategic partner Raycom, which provides private 4G/5G offerings and radio deployment expertise, equipment, and software. Using multiple sectors on “a few” base stations, this first implementation covered Bend, OR and adjacent low-density communities to provide high-speed internet to homes and CBRS-enabled smartphones, according to Ruralink.

“This is the first important step to providing rural and underserved areas of North America with widely available, affordable broadband internet,” said Rami Mirsky, Raycom’s CEO. “Broadband connectivity has become a fundamental daily necessity, and we are here to fulfill this need and bring it to every home and business regardless of their geographical locatio

About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director & Associate Publisher

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, DOCSIS technology, and more.