Western U.S. Tribal Communities Cross the Digital Divide with Cambium Networks' Wireless Fabric Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Cambium Networks (NASDAQ: CMBM) announced efforts to provide high-speed internet access to tribal communities across the Western United States. Collaborating with channel partners and entities like EnerTribe, the company has deployed broadband solutions in remote areas of California, Washington, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon, improving connectivity for over 100,000 individuals. This initiative, funded partly through the CARES Act, aims to bridge the digital divide faced by Indigenous populations, especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic for education and telemedicine.

Positive

• Deployment of broadband solutions improves connectivity for over 100,000 individuals.
• Partnerships with channel partners and EnerTribe enhance service delivery in remote regions.
• Funding from the CARES Act supports infrastructure development in underserved communities.

Negative

• None.

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambium Networks (NASDAQ: CMBM), a leading global provider of wireless networking solutions, today announced that it is supplying tribal communities in the Western United States with fixed wireless broadband and Wi-Fi solutions to deliver affordable high-speed internet access. The deployments are part of an ongoing effort by Cambium Networks and their channel partners to help bring broadband service to underserved communities and help close a digital divide that has left Indigenous populations at a disadvantage.

In the past year, Cambium Networks has worked with tribal entities as well as with channel partners to provide affordable high-speed connectivity to 11 remote tribal nations in California, Washington, New Mexico, Arizona and Oregon. Like many Indigenous communities, these tribal nations are among the least connected groups in the United States. The tribal nations have funded these initiatives in part through the U.S. Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. Collectively, these deployments will improve the lives of more than 100,000 people. 

Cambium Networks is working with EnerTribe, a consulting firm that specializes in developing communications infrastructure and economic growth in Indigenous regions. Among their projects, EnerTribe is deploying high speed broadband connectivity over the 2.5 GHz, 3 GHz, CBRS and 5 GHz bands along with Wi-Fi access to members of the Yurok, Karuk and Hoopa tribes in California. Cambium Networks is also working with a tribal nation in Arizona and two tribal nations in New Mexico that are deploying several Cambium Networks Wi-Fi and backhaul solutions.

"Spectrum is a natural resource. Unfortunately, even though high-speed internet is key to developing local economies, most of the Native American tribes still have little to no broadband and building infrastructure," said Forest James, CEO of EnerTribe, Inc. "There's no silver bullet, but partnerships like the one we have with Cambium Networks are proving invaluable for us to narrow the digital divide for these communities."

The work with EnerTribe and similar partners is part of Cambium Networks' longer-range goal to use its expertise and wireless fabric portfolio of solutions to close the digital divide by providing high-speed broadband connections to underserved areas including Indigenous communities, educational institutions, and municipalities.

Since 2012, Cambium Networks has been working with Sacred Wind Communications, a telecommunications company providing the first home-based telephone service and high-speed internet to the Navajo Nation. The Navajo reservation is home to tribal members who live in remote areas of Northwestern New Mexico, Northeastern Arizona, and Southern Utah, many of whom have no access to the internet. Sacred Wind operates on Navajo Lands in New Mexico where approximately 7,000 homes are scattered over 3,200 square miles within its service territory.

"Cambium Networks' fixed wireless broadband technology, Wi-Fi access and centralized management are very well suited for these applications because not only do we have the products that fit all these different needs, but we can also mobilize our entire ecosystem of engineers, consultants and neighboring service providers that already use our equipment to help solve problems," said Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO, Cambium Networks. "Our mission is to connect the unconnected and deliver results. Our partners have deployed our fixed wireless and Wi-Fi access solutions all over the world in the most extreme conditions to deliver connectivity to underserved populations and remote geographic areas. Our work with tribal communities extends that mission to Indigenous Americans."

The urgency to bridge the digital divide has become especially acute in the COVID era with students forced to connect online for classes and many people working remotely. In extremely remote regions, such as many of those populated by Indigenous communities, broadband also delivers telemedicine to families who are unable to get regular in-person medical care.

Cambium Networks' full range of solutions are available through its global network of partners.

About Cambium Networks
Cambium Networks delivers wireless communications that work for businesses, communities and cities worldwide. Millions of our radios are deployed to connect people, places and things with a unified wireless fabric that spans multiple standards and frequencies of fixed wireless and Wi-Fi, all managed centrally via the cloud. Our multi-gigabit wireless fabric offers a compelling value proposition over traditional fiber and alternative wireless solutions. We work with our Cambium certified ConnectedPartners to deliver purpose-built networks for service provider, enterprise, industrial, and government connectivity solutions in urban, suburban, and rural environments, with wireless that just works.

Media Contact:
Dave Reddy
Big Valley Marketing for Cambium
+1 (650) 868-4659
dreddy@bigvalley.co

 

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SOURCE Cambium Networks

FAQ

What is Cambium Networks doing for tribal communities in the Western U.S.?

Cambium Networks is providing high-speed internet access to tribal communities through broadband deployments, improving connectivity for over 100,000 people.

How many tribal nations are involved in Cambium Networks' broadband initiative?

Cambium Networks is working with 11 tribal nations across California, Washington, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon.

What legislation is funding the broadband initiatives by Cambium Networks?

The broadband initiatives are partly funded through the U.S. Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

What challenges do tribal communities face regarding internet access?

Many tribal communities in the U.S. are among the least connected groups, facing significant barriers to broadband access that Cambium Networks aims to address.