Southern Link Replaces iDEN Network with CriticalLinc LTE

The turndown of the iDEN LTE network by Southern link recently, now allows the company to use its entire spectrum for the new CriticalLinc LTE network. The dedicated spectrum will deliver benefits to both existing and new LTE users.

"We've had a foot in two camps for the past four years or so, maintaining both the iDEN network and the LTE network," says Alan McIntyre, Southern Linc's Engineering Director. "When we shut down the iDEN network completely, 100 percent of our focus will shift to maintaining and optimizing the new LTE network. From an ongoing networking, operational, maintenance and service perspective, we'll be laser-focused on LTE."

Southern Linc went through the process of suspending service on thousands of old iDEN phones during March, but not all of the network elements were turned off. When all sites are turned off, new software will be pushed to more than a thousand LTE cell sites across the 4-state footprint, allowing the CriticalLinc network to utilize the full spectrum available to the network.

Even though users will likely experience no disruption in service, there will be significant performance improvements that may or may not be initially evident

"The spectrum that Southern Linc is licensed for is presently divided between the iDEN network and the LTE network," explains McIntyre. "Roughly two-thirds of the spectrum view is used for iDEN, and one-third is used for LTE, so once we're able to turn iDEN down and go all-in with LTE, we can use all of that spectrum for LTE. The capacity of the LTE network will then more than double, and that means additional capacity for more data applications."

The shift to an all-LTE network will also allow for a single-focus network optimization and performance improvement.

"We placed LTE test equipment in all of our site technicians' trucks, and we have a team that's dedicated toward optimization as well," explains McIntyre. "Our test equipment collects data as our teams drive around the service area. We use tools that analyze the data so that we can make software changes to the network to help improve performance in a given area. A lot of optimization happens through the lens of a user's experience, so we're trying to optimize to greatly reduce dropped calls, any kind of garbled audio and any issues that really impact somebody's use of our LTE services."

The carrier originally planned to launch its first LTE services in 2016. Several public-safety agencies have contracted to use the network.