US regional cellular carrier Nex-Tech Wireless has paired with network vendor Ericsson to upgrade its network across rural Kansas, which includes the launch of a 5G Standalone network.

The company has signed a four-year network modernization agreement with Ericsson that will see Nex-Tech upgrade approximately 85 percent of its radio access network (RAN) footprint across rural Kansas.

According to Ericsson, this includes the deployment of a cloud-native 5G SA Core, plus the ability to enable new network hosting capabilities for other mobile operators.

It's part of Nex-Tech Wireless' rural telecom network modernization strategy, which seeks to deliver 5G services to communities outside of major metropolitan markets.

As part of the agreement, Nex-Tech Wireless will upgrade its network using Ericsson Radio System products and solutions, including the AI-capable RAN Processor 6655 and the latest 4G and 5G SA RAN software features.

These upgrades will provide improved coverage, capacity, and spectral efficiency.

As for the core side of the network, the agreement will see Nex-Tech implement Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution, which runs on Ericsson’s Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution (CNIS) to include 5G Core and roaming capabilities. Importantly this will help support the deployment of 5G Standalone (5G SA).

5G SA is seen as the true variation of 5G, as the technology is not reliant on older mobile generations and solely uses a 5G core network. The technology enables use cases such as network slicing, which is tipped to be a key feature of the 5G SA.

“Nex-Tech Wireless is bringing the benefits of advanced 5G Standalone to rural Kansas communities,” said Jon Lightle, president and CEO at Nex-Tech Wireless. “By partnering with Ericsson to modernize our RAN and expand our cloud-native 5G Core, we are strengthening our network performance today while creating a scalable, future-proof platform for new services and opportunities in the years ahead.”

“This agreement underscores Ericsson’s commitment to regional carriers that are driving innovation in rural markets,” added Per Wahlen, SVP and head of customer unit US hyperscalers and regional accounts, Ericsson Americas. “We are helping Nex-Tech Wireless execute its rural telecom network modernization strategy end-to-end, support subscriber growth, and unlock new revenue streams with hosting capabilities and differentiated 5G connectivity.”

Founded in 2005, Nex-Tech Wireless is estimated to have around 70,000 customers.