Illinois Gets Rural CDMA Network

Somera Communications has announced the Company's support for the CDMA network overlay of Illinois Valley Cellular, a wireless operator that serves the rural market throughout Illinois.

"Somera has enabled Illinois Valley Cellular to stretch our budgets and lower our legacy network operating costs with their unique combination of quality new and redeployed equipment and service solutions without compromising quality and service in the process," said Tom Walsh, General Manager, Illinois Valley Cellular. "As we continue migration to CDMA, Somera's equipment and services offering will continue to help Illinois Valley Cellular execute our CDMA network deployment strategy and accelerate our return on this critical investment."

Somera has been supporting the CDMA overlay deployment plan of Illinois Valley Cellular with new and redeployed equipment and services for integration, customization, and installation. The primary focus of the relationship has been in support of legacy network maintenance and cell site tune-up. Since the Company is providing a multi-vendor solution, all equipment is tested to manufacturer specifications and engineered for the specific network application.

"Customers are putting greater emphasis on stretching their capital budgets and redirecting their resources to core strategies to service their customers," said Jeff Miller, Executive Vice President of Wireless Sales for Somera. "We believe we have helped Illinois Valley Cellular accomplish this important objective. Our warranted and tested redeployed equipment offering, coupled with our equipment services, provide the savings and competencies that are customers are looking for. And, in the process, they can focus more of their efforts on satisfying the needs of their customers and generating new revenues. We are looking forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Illinois Valley Cellular."

Somera currently provides Equipment Supply and Equipment Deployment services to more than 100 rural operators and has previously announced relationships with Carolina West Wireless, First Cellular of Southern Illinois and Ramcell of Kentucky."

Posted to the site on 24th April 2003