Lynchburg area’s Internet coverage expanded with link to cell signals
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By Bryan Gentry
Published: June 23, 2008
The Lynchburg area is getting more exposure from a mobile Internet technology that allows users to surf the Web essentially anywhere they get a cell phone signal.
NTelos, a communications company headquartered in Waynesboro, has finished an $80 million upgrade of its cell towers in the Lynchburg area to support Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO), which provides mobile high-speed Internet access.
The nTelos service became available in Lynchburg on Monday.
EVDO allows users to access the Internet on a phone or a computer equipped with an access card. The speed averages around 400 to 700 kilobits per second, and can reach 1.5 megabits per second, according to an nTelos news release.
Sprint customers would also be able to use Sprint’s mobile broadband service in Lynchburg through an agreement between Sprint and nTelos, said nTelos spokesman Mike Minnis.
Jonathan Whitt, executive director of Region 2000’s Technology Council, is excited to see the growth of EVDO availability.
“It’s another example of a service that’s available here,” he said. “It gives us more opportunity for citizens in the region to be connected to broadband.”
Whitt recently learned that Alltel already offers an EVDO service in the Lynchburg area.
Last week Whitt sat down to test Alltel’s mobile broadband service, running on a laptop with an EVDO card.
He measured the speed at 1.5 megabits per second.
“We think it’s pretty darn impressive. We tested it here in our office … and it was as fast as a landline DSL connection. We were thrilled.”
The price of EVDO access varies. Alltel’s services range from about $60 to $100 per month, according to the company’s Web site. NTelos offers two plans: a limited-access plan for about $30 per month, and an unlimited plan for around $50.
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Posted by ( narwhal ) on June 25, 2008 at 8:45 pm
What this article doesn’t mention is that nTelos also commissioned two new towers in Appomattox County, between Appomattox and Pamplin that brings broadband speeds to areas that didn’t previously have any choice other than satellite internet (which starts at $50 a month for the basic package (512 down/128up) and is spotty at best.) The EVDO Rev A technology that was launched boasts speeds as high as 3.1 down and 1.8 up and is extremely reliable. A Sprint data card can be purchased for as little as $50 with a 5 GB plan for $60 a month. I can’t tell what nTelos’ plan is from their web site. This may not be as good a deal as Verizon’s DSL service but for rural areas that don’t any option other than dial-up, it’s a great deal.
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Posted by ( klrosser ) on June 25, 2008 at 11:30 am
True, mobile broadband is expensive. However the benefits are why people go for it. If you are on the go as a business person and need guaranteed coverage, this is something that provides that for you. As someone who works in the telecom industry, i know how valuable access is for people that depend on it. I have seen many customers who only qualify for dial up be able to use mobile broadband to have a faster connection. This is a service that has been designed for on the go users. Its all about what works for you.
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Posted by ( Lone Gunman ) on June 24, 2008 at 10:25 am
Well I checked into this service and it’s expensive to say the least. They want $119 for the equipment and $49.95 a month for a 700k connection? And, you also have to sign a 2 year service contract to get it? And I thought the idea was “affordable” broadband?
Standard Verizon DSL is only $19.95 a month and at 768k it is faster than the WIFI nTelos is offering. Wonder who they think is going to pay that?
GNS Networks in the Concord area is installing a WIFI tower in the Stonewall area which should be opperational early in August. Their prices are better than nTelos and their service contract is only 6 month so all in all it’s a better deal for me since I’m on a fixed income.
I guess the cost of these will come down a bit as time goes by as Sprint and AT&T;also are offering WIFI as well, but price is an issue with them also. If enough competition is around it may become cheaper in the future.
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