This page contains information on the Ottawa County Wireless Broadband Project.

Ottawa County Wireless Broadband

A Partnership Agreement to expand a high-speed wireless broadband network in Ottawa County has been signed by iPCS Wireless Inc., an affiliate of Sprint PCS. Although iPCS Wireless currently offers its wireless communication services in several urbanized areas in the County, the company has agreed to invest approximately $1,000,000 to upgrade and expand service into the County’s rural areas utilizing an Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) wireless technology.

According to the Agreement conditions, once the EVDO network is fully built-out, it will provide service to approximately 95% of the County’s population. Although limited areas of the County may not be able to access the network even after the system is fully built, the Agreement will result in a broadband system that provides high-speed Internet access to many residents in rural areas of Ottawa County who previously had no broadband access.

The EVDO network will provide maximum download speeds of 1.2Mbps and average speeds of 450Kbps, which is up to 21 times faster than dial-up Internet service that is presently available in many rural areas of the County. The EVDO network also has the capability to provide continuous high-speed wireless internet access, even when traveling at freeway speeds. The network also utilizes a licensed frequency that will not interfere with existing public safety radio networks and has an extensive encryption system that provides customers with a highly-secured network through which to access the Internet. Furthermore, subscribers to the network can access the Internet from any place in the nation where the licensed Sprint EVDO frequency is available, including Hawaii.

Additional details regarding timeframe for deployment, subscription costs, and contact information to subscribe to the service are provided in a February, 18, 2008 Press Release .