VTel Wireless Cell Service

VTel Wireless, an affiliate of Vermont Telephone based in Springfield, received a $5.07 million award to support expansion of cellular service within 20 areas in Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties in December, 2012. It will extend mobile voice and data service in two ways. VTEL Wireless will be launching their own retail cellular service, and they will have roaming agreements with cell carriers. An estimated additional 197 miles of roadways will get cell coverage.

The project is based on substantial broadband infrastructure already being built by VTel Wireless and known as Wireless Open World (WOW). Broadband Internet access will become available to a significant number of currently unserved or under-served Vermont homes and businesses as VTel constructs their 4G (fourth generation) LTE data technology system. The WOW project is primarily funded by a combination of a federal stimulus grant plus a federal loan, as well as VTel’s own investment.

The locations of many of the WOW broadband service areas overlap with the state’s ‘target corridors’ for cell service. Target Corridors are main travel routes identified as either lacking cell service completely or having inconsistent coverage. The Agency of Administration and the VTA identified over 100 of them in 2011 in order to focus funding and find solutions. 

Through this award, cellular voice service equipment will be deployed on many of the same structures planned for the WOW project. VTel also will install small cell sites on utility poles. Small-cell equipment, deployed at relatively short intervals along roadways, will bring cell service to areas that are especially difficult to serve.

The scope of this project leverages federal and private funds already at work. It avoids duplication of infrastructure and maximizes resources.

A sample of locations where cell service coverage will be improved:

·         Andover Road from Andover to Weston

·         Route 7 in Pownal

·         Route 9 in Marlboro and Wilmington

·         Routes 100 and 100a in Plymouth

·         Route 100 in Wardsboro

·         Route 103 in Mount Holly

·         Route 133 from Pawlet to Middletown Springs

To prepare for technological advances already in the pipeline, the project does more than simply extend current 3G voice technology to these locations in southern Vermont. Through the VTA funding, VTel Wireless will purchase core equipment that will ultimately make it possible for them to add mobile cell service to their entire LTE wireless broadband system, which will reach into the Northeast Kingdom.

Funding for the VTA award was made possible by an appropriation in the capital budget.