Ericsson announced an agreement with UScellular to accelerate the enhancements to UScellular’s 5G network.

The deal includes the deployment of UScellular’s C-band and 3.45GHz spectrum, opening up the opportunity for enhanced Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). UScellular expects to activate mid-band spectrum for customer use by the end of 2023.

Mike Irizarry, chief technology officer at UScellular, said: “These deployments are an important step in our multi-year 5G plan to provide our customers an unmatched network experience.”

Ericsson offers an intelligent Antenna Integrated Radio (AIR) unit together with Ericsson’s Uplink Booster enabling channel knowledge and minimal fronthaul consumption, as well as leading network expertise to support UScellular’s plan to build out mid-band capacity for mobile and FWA customers.

“Ericsson has a long-standing relationship with UScellular, and we share their commitment to providing a resilient and sustainable network through the use of innovations, elevating the customer experience,” Eric Boudriau, Head of Customer Unit Regional Carriers, Ericsson North America, said.

UScellular’s existing deployment of Ericsson RAN technologies include low-band and millimeter wave 5G (mmWave) equipment with mmWave extended range functionality and services.