April 2022 Updates
Sugarloaf Network Systems
On April 1st Sugarloaf Network Systems notified approximately 120 customers that they are unable to continue their 4G-LTE based service to customers in Loudoun due to technical issues with AT&T sim cards.
This is terrible news for Loudoun residents and businesses that are dependent on wireless for their Internet. Loudoun County staff is facilitating conversations with Sugarloaf Network Systems and AT&T, however no immediate solution has surfaced.
Loudoun Broadband Alliance will continue to research this and as soon as we know more, we will provide an update. If you are in the affected area, please enter your address in the All Points Broadband Fiber Survey to ensure you are mapped as needing Fiber Broadband to your home.
Broadband Availability Maps
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is developing a statewide broadband availability map indicating broadband coverage across the Commonwealth, and expects the map will be available later this Spring.
In the meantime, you can view the map that the Loudoun Broadband Alliance developed.
Numerous Initiatives Bring Affordable Broadband to Low-Income Virginians
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is developing a statewide broadband availability map indicating broadband coverage across the Commonwealth, and expects the map will be available later this Spring.
In the meantime, you can view the map that the Loudoun Broadband Alliance developed.
5G Cellular Technology (simply referred to as “5G”) is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 4G networks. While 5G technology will build on standards and technologies from previous generations of wireless technologies, it will expand the previous focus on consumer use cases–including functions like phone calls, text messaging, and internet based apps– to also benefit business and government uses.
5G will enable new services which can be leveraged by enterprises or government agencies to realize the functionality they are trying to achieve. These services range from multi-gigabit connectivity (think consumer metaverse in VR) to connectivity for massive Internet of Things (IOT, like medical devices in a hospital) to low latency very reliable connectivity aimed at mission-critical communications. Latency is the time it takes for data to pass from one point on a network to another and is critical in time sensitive applications like autonomous automobiles or remote surgery. 5G will be transformative to sectors as wide ranging as transportation, defense, manufacturing, medicine, and education.
That being said, 5G will also be used by consumers in their enhanced phone applications as well as permitting wireless internet access for your home at well over 1 Gbps speeds.
Watch for our May newsletter to learn how 5G will be deployed and, depending on the spectrum or band, how well it will work for consumers and businesses.
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Loudoun Broadband Alliance is looking for volunteers to our join our Fiber to the Home, Broadband Affordability, Wireless Coverage, Communications, and Business Partnership Workgroups. If you are passionate about helping expand broadband access, contact us today to share your talents with the community!