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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – A major investment to bring more cell phone service to West Virginia has been completed.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and T-Mobile executives are building 377 new towers and adding 121 new towers to connect more West Virginians online to the global 5G network. He shared the results of a $200 million investment that upgraded the existing tower. Attorneys say T-Mobile’s investments in the Mountain State have “significantly improved” connectivity for West Virginians, especially in rural and underserved areas of the state.
When T-Mobile merged with Sprint in 2020, it worked to improve the availability of mobile services in small towns and rural areas across the country, company officials said. T-Mobile acquired Shentel Wireless in 2021, so it focused on making its network available to West Virginians.
“When T-Mobile merged with Sprint, part of our promise was to leverage 5G to build a more connected nation,” said Ulf Ewaldson, president of technology at T-Mobile. Masu. “Our work with Governor Justice in West Virginia is proof of what’s possible when you invest time, resources and teamwork in traditionally underserved places, and T-Mobile We’re proud to be opening the door for people and businesses to connect more than ever before.”
T-Mobile executives said the following about the investment:
- Currently, 100% of the state’s interstates are served by T-Mobile 5G.
- In just two years, T-Mobile access for West Virginians has increased by 30%, or 500,000 more people. This means 90% of West Virginia now has access to the company’s 5G network.
- Ultra Capacity 5G is currently available in 70% of West Virginia. Ultra Capacity 5G will deliver median download speeds of 99.98 Mbps across the state, which is 41% faster than speeds available in 2021, according to the governor’s office.
- Backup power has been expanded in case of inclement weather that may impact mobile service.
T-Mobile executive Edwidge Robinson said the investment also brought jobs to West Virginia. She said the 21 new stores alone will bring her 150 new job opportunities, and the construction of new towers and upgrades to existing towers will bring even more jobs to the state.
“We would like to express our gratitude. Thank you for welcoming T-Mobile to West Virginia. Collectively, we want to express our gratitude to communities around West Virginia, from homes to businesses. ,” said Edwige Robinson, T-Mobile executive. “And for me personally, I understand the value of digital literacy. So I can do my homework at home, I can access jobs that I didn’t have access to before, I can do business from West Virginia all over the world. It’s a great thing to be able to do.”
T-Mobile executives say the company is also working on recent upgrades to bring high-speed broadband to West Virginia.
The governor’s office said a recent West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council survey found that 90% of respondents had home internet, but 60% of respondents did not have access to high-speed internet. . With this investment, 400,000 households in West Virginia now have access to T-Mobile’s 5G high-speed internet.
Justice said another recent study showed that this investment increased median download speeds by 66% from 2022 to 2023.
“West Virginia’s progress toward improved connectivity is a testament to the power of collaboration,” Justice said. “We have worked diligently with T-Mobile and other partners to ensure every corner of our state has access to the tools and resources they need to thrive in the digital age. Their investment is a game-changer and will help expand 5G coverage and increase internet speeds for West Virginians. We are very grateful for their investment in our state. is a testament to the power of partnership and our collective commitment to building a brighter future for all West Virginians.”
Justice said counties benefiting from this investment include Barbour, Braxton, Marion, Monroe, Nicholas, Summers, Upshur, Webster and Wyoming counties. , including the first county to introduce 5G service.
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