Nokia Siemens Networks has announced that company launched a LTE network for U.S. Cellular and its partner, King Street Wireless, in 11 markets covering select cities in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Nokia Siemens Networks was selected by U.S. Cellular for the second wave of the 4G LTE network rollout.

Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks is providing the LTE access network and expanding the EPC capacity to support U.S. Cellular’s new markets. This includes 4G LTE base stations (eNode Bs), and Mobile Management Entity (MME). The agreement also covers network implementation services as well as hardware and software services. 

Previously, Nokia Siemens Networks deployed Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and Home Subscriber Services (HSS) in the first wave of the 4G LTE rollout. The installation of the 4G LTE core was included in nine separate markets.