Starent Supplying GSM/CDMA Mobile Kit

Rural Cellular Corporation, a rural wireless carrier in North America, has selected Starent Networks to provide data infrastructure equipment for deployment in its wireless network. The agreement calls for Starent Networks to provide an integrated Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) for Rural Cellular Corp's (RCC) CDMA2000 and GSM/GPRS networks. Deployment of the Starent ST16 Intelligent Mobile Gateway will initiate RCC's packet data services offerings.

"Rural Cellular Corporation is focused on building a world-class network that will offer our subscribers the best experience possible," said Ann Newhall, COO, Rural Cellular Corporation. "To do so, we thoroughly evaluated a number of solutions. The Starent ST16 demonstrated clear market leadership in performance and is unique in its ability to integrate both PDSN and GGSN capabilities in a single platform."

RCC was founded in 1991 through the combination of five partnerships holding different cellular licenses in Minnesota. Since then, RCC has completed a series of acquisitions increasing its population served ten fold across four regions (Midwest, Northeast, South, and Northwest). RCC provides mobile phone and data services to customers in 14 states.

"Starent Networks is committed to the success of RCC in their deployment of data services," said Ashraf Dahod, president, Starent Networks Corporation. "We provide an industry leading solution that is already deployed in both CDMA2000 and W-CDMA networks."

Posted to the site on 28th October 2003