Rumors and speculation of the final approval of the anticipated merger of AT&T (News - Alert) and T-Mobile have been flooding media outlets since the first announcement was made back in March.
But since recent reports of the merger being blocked due to a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Sprint, those who have jumped the gun and started developing plans may be suddenly finding themselves at a crossroads.
In a recent article, state Sen. Kevin J. Mullin, Rutland, said it best, “Broadband is the 21st Century equivalent of electricity and the telephone rolled into one.” To put it frankly, once a luxury, attaining a broadband connection has turned into a necessity, and one that people do not take lightly if lost or unavilable. Sen. Mullin added that broadband does not only provide us with basic Internet connection, but is also an innovative means for improving healthcare, education and business across the board.
However, due to rural locations, there are some underserved areas that are not as fortunate when it comes to easy access, always-on broadband. Take Rutland County and much of rural Vermont for example; Sen. Mullin noted that these areas are being left behind, while other urban areas of the country are speeding ahead.
If the AT&T and T-Mobile merger is in fact approved, the proposal promised a potential build out for the state of Vermont by extending their 4G LTE (News - Alert) network throughout the state. With a reliable broadband connection in rural areas, build outs also promise the growth of small businesses, school systems and economic development in general.
Actelis (News - Alert) Networks, a global supplier of Ethernet in the First Mile over bonded copper solutions, is well-known for not only providing an array of broadband deployments, but also for remaining the company to count on to provide underserved and unserved areas with broadband solutions. With its Broadband Accelerators (BBAs), Actelis is able to close the digital divide to provide broadband access to everyone, let alone just easy access locations and underserved ones.
For more information on how to utilize Actelis Networks’ BBA solutions regardless of location, visit the company’s website.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.
Stefanie Mosca is a Managing Editor for TMCnet, with a particular focus in wireless technologies as well as mobile and IP communications. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of New Haven. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page or follow her on Twitter (News - Alert) @stefaniemosca.
Edited by Juliana Kenny