Maine Gets First Glimpse of 'Game Changer' Internet Service

Camden-based Redzone Wireless launched its wireless Internet service in Greater Portland (ME) and Waterville (ME), marking the start of service Gov. Paul LePage (R-ME) and state officials said could be a “game changer” for expanding broadband Internet in the state. The service uses a specific range of the wireless spectrum the Federal Communications Commission set aside for educational institutions, which Redzone uses through a 30-year agreement with the University of Maine. Jim McKenna, president of the Camden-based Redzone, said the company planned to set up service at 15 towers in 2015, including in Lewiston and parts of Bangor. Four of those first 15 towers will serve the Greater Portland region, McKenna said. Whether that initial effort allows the company to break even will determine how quickly the company may expand to rural areas of the state, McKenna said. “If we do that and are successful, then we enter 2016 and we immediately start looking to rapidly expand to more rural areas of the state,” McKenna said, noting that timeline remains uncertain. But the potential is large as the company seeks to build its network on top of existing cell tower and fiber-optic cable infrastructure.

McKenna said there are 600 cell towers in the state connected to fiber-optic cables. Setting up a new site involves connecting its radio heads to that fiber-optic cable and using 4G LTE, or long-term evolution, radio technology similar to what phone companies use to send data to smartphones to connect with a router in a customer’s home or business. The wireless model is similar to what existing cable providers do in the state, extending a fiber connection from a local “node” out to specific households using coaxial cables. Redzone instead provides what’s called “last-mile” service over the air using the type of technology cell phone providers use for data service.