C Spire Launches 5G Home Internet to Expand Rural Internet Access for Mississippi Consumers

Rhea-AI Summary

C Spire has launched its 5G Home Internet service to expand rural internet access in Mississippi, where about 23% of households lack internet connectivity. The service utilizes Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology through C Spire's nationwide 5G wireless network to deliver high-speed internet to areas without traditional fiber broadband or cable infrastructure.

The service features download speeds up to 100Mbps and includes a premium wireless router. C Spire has partnered with Inseego to implement this expansion, utilizing the Inseego 5G Wavemaker FX3110 indoor cellular router, which can support up to 64 connected devices. The service became available to a number of homes starting January 19.

Positive

• Partnership with Inseego to expand rural broadband access
• Launch of new 5G Home Internet service with speeds up to 100Mbps
• Potential market expansion in Mississippi where 23% lack internet connectivity

Negative

• initial availability of the service
• Speed cap at 100Mbps may not be competitive with fiber solutions

Insights

Technology & Telecom Analyst

This partnership with C Spire represents a double-edged sword for Inseego (INSG). While securing another carrier deployment validates their 5G FWA technology, several factors temper the immediate financial impact:

Market Context: The FWA market is experiencing rapid growth, with major players like Verizon and T-Mobile aggressively expanding their footprint. C Spire's deployment in Mississippi, where 23% of households lack internet access, taps into a clear market need. However, C Spire's regional focus and " number of homes" initial rollout suggests modest near-term revenue potential for Inseego.

Technical Analysis: The Wavemaker FX3110 router's capabilities (supporting 64 devices and delivering speeds up to 100Mbps) are competitive but not industry-leading. Larger competitors offer comparable or superior specifications, potentially limiting Inseego's pricing power and margins.

Financial Implications: Given Inseego's current market cap of $170M, this deployment likely represents a small percentage of potential annual revenue. The router's retail price typically ranges from $300-400 and assuming a conservative 30% margin and initial deployment to 5,000 households, this might generate roughly $500,000 in gross profit - not enough to significantly move the needle.

Strategic Perspective: This deal could serve as a reference case for future regional carrier partnerships, potentially opening doors to larger opportunities. However, Inseego faces intense competition from established players like Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung in the FWA equipment market, making it challenging to secure major carrier contracts.

For investors, while any new carrier deployment is positive news, this particular announcement is unlikely to materially impact Inseego's financial performance or stock price in the near term. The key catalyst would be securing larger carrier partnerships or demonstrating significant market share gains in the growing FWA segment.

RIDGELAND, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- C Spire, a diversified telecommunications and technology services company, announced the launch of C Spire 5G Home Internet, expanding rural internet access for thousands of underserved Mississippians. The 5G Home Internet plan is backed by C Spire’s nationwide 5G wireless network.

C Spire Launches 5G Home Internet to Expand Rural Internet Access for Mississippians (Graphic: Business Wire)

Broadbandnow.com research analysis indicates that about 23 percent of Mississippi households lack an internet connection. C Spire plans to change that with Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which leverages the extra capacity and speed of its 5G wireless network to deliver a reliable high-speed home internet experience to areas in Mississippi where traditional fiber broadband or cable infrastructure does not exist.

“Reliable internet service is no longer optional to support opportunities for education, economic development, and technological opportunities in communities we serve,” said Craig Jackson, senior vice president and general manager of consumer markets for C Spire. “The launch of 5G Home Internet is another way C Spire is adding value for our customers and bridging the digital divide by increasing connectivity in our home state.”

C Spire is expanding rural broadband access across Mississippi through a strategic partnership with Inseego. The Inseego 5G Wavemaker FX3110 indoor cellular router delivers reliable, high-speed internet to homes, and supports up to 64 connected devices.

"5G FWA is transforming home internet by providing unparalleled speed and reliability, ensuring that every household can enjoy seamless connectivity,” stated Steve Harmon, Chief Revenue Officer at Inseego. “We at Inseego envision a world where high-speed, reliable internet is accessible to all, transforming how we live, work, and play. Partnerships with 5G home FWA pioneers like C Spire make this vision a reality."

Key features of C Spire’s 5G Home Internet include:

• Download speeds up to 100Mbps
• Premium wireless router included
• Easy self-setup

C Spire’s 5G Home Internet is available for a limited number of homes as of January 19. Visit cspire.com/5GHomeInternet for more information on C Spire 5G Home Internet.

About C Spire

C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data, cloud and managed IT services for businesses and enterprises. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or X at www.x.com/cspire.

About Inseego Corp.

Inseego Corp. (Nasdaq: INSG) is the industry leader in 5G Enterprise cloud WAN solutions, with millions of end customers and thousands of enterprise and SMB customers on its 4G, 5G, and cloud platforms. Inseego's 5G Edge Cloud combines the industry's best 5G technology, rich cloud networking features, and intelligent edge applications. Inseego powers new business experiences by connecting distributed sites and workforces, securing enterprise data, and improving business outcomes with intelligent operational visibility---all over a 5G network. For more information on Inseego, visit www.inseego.com #Putting5GtoWork

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250121703422/en/

Courtney Grimes, C Spire

601.746.2737

cgrimes@cspire.com

Source: C Spire

FAQ

What speeds does C Spire's new 5G Home Internet service offer?

C Spire's 5G Home Internet service offers download speeds of up to 100Mbps.

How many devices can connect to C Spire's 5G Home Internet through the Inseego router?

The Inseego 5G Wavemaker FX3110 indoor cellular router can support up to 64 connected devices.

When did C Spire launch its 5G Home Internet service in Mississippi?

C Spire launched its 5G Home Internet service on January 19, 2024, with initial availability.

What percentage of Mississippi households lack internet connectivity?

According to Broadbandnow.com research, approximately 23% of Mississippi households lack an internet connection.

What equipment is included with C Spire's 5G Home Internet service?

The service includes a premium wireless router (Inseego 5G Wavemaker FX3110) with easy self-setup.