Honolulu (September 18, 2020) – Using wireless spectrum licenses acquired by its parent company Cincinnati Bell, Hawaiian Telcom will further expand broadband coverage in Hawai‘i. Licenses were acquired for Hawai‘i, Kalawao, Kaua‘i and Maui counties.
The wireless spectrum licenses were won as part of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Auction 105 for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Priority Access Licenses (PAL). The FCC announced the results of this auction on September 2, 2020.
President and General Manager Su Shin said the company will use the wireless spectrum licenses primarily to deliver broadband service of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to residents and business customers that are located outside the company's robust and growing fiber network, which spans nearly 5,000 route miles throughout the island state,
"The wireless spectrum is another tool we can leverage to deliver our world-class broadband service to more local residents and businesses in certain areas of our state where it's not feasible to build out fiber infrastructure," said Shin.
The wireless spectrum will enable Hawaiian Telcom to deliver broadband services to deliver broadband service using transmitters and receivers and radio waves instead of cables. The FCC will award the licenses at the end of this year and services are expected to launch starting in 2022.
"As a local provider that's committed to Hawai'i, we understand that broadband connectivity is critical to maximize economic development, education, and quality of life initiatives throughout our state. This reality has only been reinforced by the work from home and remote learning environments as well the growing telemedicine requirements in our rural communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Shin. "Hawaiian Telcom remains committed to expanding broadband throughout our state."
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About Hawaiian Telcom
Hawaiian Telcom, established and headquartered in Honolulu since 1883, offers a full range of services to business and residential customers including Internet, video, voice, wireless, data network solutions and security, colocation, and managed and cloud services - all supported by the reach and reliability of its next generation fiber network and 24/7 state-of-the-art network operations center. With employees statewide sharing a commitment to innovation and a passion for delivering superior service, Hawaiian Telcom is proud to be Hawai'i's Technology Leader. For more information, visit hawaiiantel.com
Contact
Ann Nishida Fry
(808) 285-9289
Ann.nishida@hawaiiantel.com