Samsung Electronics announced it has been selected as a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and Compact Core provider for Avista Edge, a last mile, fixed wireless access (FWA) 5G technology provider.
With a focus on delivering fast, reliable internet service to those that need it most, Avista Edge, a non-regulated subsidiary of Avista Corp., brings enhanced connectivity to people in underserved communities through partnerships with U.S. electric utilities and local ISPs.
As efforts to reduce the digital divide continue across the U.S., Samsung and Avista Edge aim to help bridge the gap by offering reliable high-speed internet connectivity through electric utilities and ISPs.
Samsung’s 5G-ready CBRS and Compact Core solutions will be combined with Avista Edge’s Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). Using Avista Edge’s network powered by Samsung, electric utilities will have access to an electric meter collar that contains all of the 5G FWA networking components that enable last-mile high-speed internet service.
The Avista Edge CPE is quick and easy to install. It only takes a few minutes for electric utility partners to attach the Avista Edge device between the electric meter and the socket. The FCC- and UL-approved Avista Edge CPE can be installed without any construction, wires or modems, and avoids the high cost and delays frequently found with fiber-to-the-home initiatives.
After conducting successful trials this year, including a pilot that launched in Cheney, Wash., in early 2022, Avista Edge looks to offer commercial 5G fixed wireless technology to electric utilities and ISPs in the future. With this service, rural communities will have access to 5G connectivity, enabling them to use applications essential for how we live and work, including telemedicine and online education.
Bob O’Donnell of TECHnalysis
CBRS expansion is critical to meet the rapidly increasing connectivity demands across the country. Samsung’s solutions leveraged by Avista Edge are a strong example of how private companies and electric utilities can join together to create new business models and successfully address the gap in rural broadband access for broader populations.
Mark Gustafson, President and CEO of Avista Edge
Given Samsung’s leadership in 5G network innovations, we are pleased to collaborate at this significant moment in our company’s history, as we aim to expand into last mile broadband technology using 5G, and bring high-speed internet connectivity to rural communities. As we build upon Avista’s rich history of innovation, Avista Edge believes broadband internet is the new electricity that powers our lives and economy—and unlocks new possibilities in this connected world in which we live.
