Rhinelander, WI - Cellcom announced that wireless broadband Internet service will be expanded to include their northern service area, including the Antigo, Rhinelander, Eagle River, Crandon, Laona, Wabeno, Minocqua, Three Lakes and Tomahawk communities. The new service rolls out to consumers mid-August and offers users a connection speed that is comparable to high-speed DSL, which is about 15 times the speed of a dial-up connection.

Making broadband Internet more readily available in the northwoods is a big step. Major telecommunications providers have been slow to bring new technologies to this region because of its remote location and low population density. As a result, many of the area’s residents were previously limited to very slow dial-up service for Internet access. In addition to slow service, dial-up internet’s drawbacks include missing calls or installing a second phone line.

Cellcom is committed to providing the latest advances in the wireless industry to rural areas. “From a telecommunications perspective, the northwoods is underserved, and we are proud to offer high-speed Internet access to these residents,” said Cellcom’s president and CEO Patrick Riordan. “Our future plans include building new towers in this area to better serve our customers.”

The residential broadband Internet service delivers high speed access with many other perks.

• -  No extra phone lines, satellite dishes or cable connections are required;
• -  It’s compatible with Windows® & Macintosh® operating systems;
• -  Multiple computers in a home can simultaneously use Internet access for one monthly fee;
• -  The service is always on and connected, so phone lines are freed up – no missed calls and no dial-up.

The latest broadband rollout extends Cellcom’s coverage area throughout portions of Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Vilas counties. To find out if your location is within the service area, call a Cellcom representative at 715-365-5270 or visit www.cellcom.com/map.