The private wireless company Ericsson has signed an agreement earlier this month with several electrical cooperatives (co-ops), according to reporting from Fierce Network. The partnership includes Ericsson, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), Southern Linc and Anterix, one of the nation’s largest holders of 900 MHz spectrum. This isn’t Ericsson’s first foray into the electricity game, but represents a much larger step than before.

Previously, Ericsson had worked with the Illinois Electric Cooperative to modernize networks in one of its rural counties. That work will be significantly upscaled with this new deal with several large electricity stakeholders. The Energy Information Administration says that the United States has about 812 electricity co-ops with an average of 24,500 customers in each of those. That would total almost 20 million total customers within the electric co-ops. 

Fierce Network found that co-ops power roughly 56% of the nation’s landmass in 48 states. The new deal with Ericsson and Anterix working together within the 900 MHz tranche is important because of Anterix’s large coverage area and number of licenses that they hold. 

The growth of private wireless into new fields continues to provide new trials and tests for the growing industry. Electric co-ops span large parts of the United States and many are in very rural areas. With the use of private wireless in remote and far-flung places, it will prove a key test to determine the success of the private networks in challenging Wi-Fi in areas that it has struggled in. For more about the electric co-ops, visit fierce-network.com or return to locallte.com for more testimonials.