Rockland, Maine-based Redzone Wireless has activated the first phase of its new ultra-fast ‘5Gx’-branded fixed-wireless broadband network in selected areas of its home state. The 5Gx wireless network has successfully achieved maximum download speeds of 450Mbps, operating within the 5.1GHz-5.8GHz frequency range. The deployment was completed in less than six months, providing a new level of broadband service access to 50,000 households in ten selected rural and suburban Maine markets, including Portland, Bangor, Augusta, Sanford, Waterville, Lewiston, Auburn, Camden, Rockland and Topsham. According to Redzone, the network combines both licensed LTE spectrum and unlicensed wireless broadband technologies on a single tower, and integrates them with a proprietary operational support system (OSS).
Jim McKenna, President of Redzone Wireless, commented: ‘Redzone’s 5Gx significantly increases fixed-wireless broadband performance, while substantially reducing network development time and deployment costs. Redzone is leading the convergence of licensed and unlicensed spectrum to deliver on the promise of affordable next generation broadband access for underserved areas of the country.’
TeleGeography notes that while ‘5Gx’ is not an official technological standard, the branding seems designed to capitalise on the wave of headline-grabbing 5G tests currently being staged by the major US wireless operators. Like Redzone’s commercial network, these 5G trials also utilise unlicensed spectrum.