The US regional service provider Big River Broadband has selected Alcatel-Lucent to build new 4G regional LTE network. Operator plans to launch 4G LTE service in seven Missouri counties in the first quarter of 2012. Alcatel-Lucent is providing its end-to-end 4G LTE solution for broadband services. 

Big River’s 4G LTE network will be funded with a $33 million dollar build-out through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Big River Broadband is part of the Missouri Broadband Commission entrusted to deliver 95% broadband penetration within the State of Missouri.  This program was awarded in September of 2010 by the Rural Utility Services (RUS) which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

According to Alcatel-Lucent, It has been selected so far by 18 customers for commercial deployments and is involved in more than 70 customer trials