iWireless

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This article is about the Iowa mobile phone service. For other uses, see i-wireless
(disambiguation).

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Iowa Wireless Services LLC d.b.a. iWireless
Type
Private (Limited liability partnership between T-Mobile US, Inc. and Iowa Network
Services Inc.)
Predecessor Iowa Wireless Services L.P.
Founded 1997
Headquarters Urbandale, Iowa, U.S.
Number of locations
250
Area served
Iowa
western Illinois
eastern Nebraska
Services No Contract Plans
Freedom Plans
Unlimited Data
Number of employees
200
Parent T-Mobile US, Inc. and
Iowa Network Services Inc.
Website iwireless.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2]
Iowa Wireless Services LLC, doing business as iWireless, is a mobile network
operator founded in 1997, not related to Kroger's service. Headquartered in
Urbandale, Iowa, iWireless is a partnership between T-Mobile US, Inc. and Iowa
Network Services Inc.[1] iWireless owns licenses to operate GSM cellular networks
in the PCS-1900 and AWS-1700 radio frequency bands covering Iowa, southwestern
Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois.[3] iWireless has over 250 full-service company
stores and authorized dealers across Iowa, western Illinois, and eastern Nebraska.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Network
2.1 Radio frequency summary
3 Services
3.1 LTE
4 Products
5 References
6 External links
History[edit]
iWireless was founded in 1997 as Iowa Wireless Services L.P., a joint venture
between Western Wireless Corp. and Iowa Network Services Inc., a consortium of 127
Iowa independent telecommunications companies. The joint venture was formed to
expand PCS throughout Iowa, marketing services under the VoiceStream Wireless brand
name.[2]
T-Mobile will acquire the remaining shares from Aureon (the successor company to
Iowa Network Services) by the end of 2017/beginning of 2018.[4]
Network[edit]
Radio frequency summary[edit]
Frequencies used on the iWireless Network
Frequency Range Band Number Protocol Class
1900 MHz PCS 2 GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
1700/2100 MHz AWS 4 UMTS/HSPA 3G
1900 MHz PCS 2 LTE 10x10 4G
iWireless operates GSM cellular networks in the PCS-1900 and AWS-1700/2100 radio
frequency bands primarily in Iowa, but also owns licenses covering the Quad Cities
area of western Illinois, southwestern Wisconsin and North Sioux City, South
Dakota. In certain rural areas iWireless is the only GSM provider, providing
roaming services for AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and other GSM carriers.
iWireless added coverage in and immediately surrounding Sioux City, Iowa, in June
2006, and has plans to add approximately 100 new cell sites mainly in western Iowa
throughout 2007, and plans to add 120 new towers throughout the Iowa, Illinois,
South Dakota, and the Wisconsin areas. In some rural areas they are the only GSM
provider, and also provide roaming services for AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and other
smaller GSM carriers. iWireless has been criticized for their relatively small
coverage area compared to larger carriers, as well as long distance charges for
calls outside of their coverage area on local plans.[5]
iWireless continued to expand their high-speed voice and data coverage in 2010
adding almost 100 new towers across Iowa and western Illinois.[6] Area cell towers
that were added during 2010 included: Sioux City, Southeastern Iowa, Southwestern
Iowa, Mason City, Garner, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Burlington, Quad
Cities, Dubuque, Iowa City, and Fort Dodge.
In September 2010, iWireless launched their statewide 3G UMTS/HSPA network. The
network transmits in the Advanced Wireless Services radio frequency band that is
also used by T-Mobile USA.
iWireless and T-Mobile USA announced on October 1, 2012 that iWireless has acquired
the rights to sell and operate service in the Des Moines market.[7] In the past, T-
Mobile had operated the metro area network as part of its nationwide network.
iWireless launched its 4G LTE network in November 2015 and is expanding the network
in 2016 and 2017. http://www.iwireless.com/support/coverage.aspx
Services[edit]
iWireless offers No Contract (Paid in Advance) plans with unlimited Nationwide
Talk, Text, and Data, that require no contracts, credit checks, or deposits. They
also offer Freedom Plans and installment payment options to credit-qualified
customers.
iWireless customers have access to nationwide 4G LTE data coverage through a
partnership with T-Mobile. 4G LTE coverage is available in Waterloo/Cedar Falls,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Quad Cities, Des Moines, and other areas in Iowa.
iWireless also has roaming agreements with virtually every GSM provider in the
United States.
In 2012, they added 4G coverage (HSPA+) in over 208 cities (through T-Mobile) and
in larger Iowa cities including Mason City, Osage, Rockwell, Davenport, Des Moines
and more Iowa cities.[8] In Q1 of 2013, they started a large 4G rollout in their
coverage area. Areas that have been updated include the following locations: Forest
City, Lake Mills, Thompson, Clear Lake, and other cities.
LTE[edit]
In March 2015, iWireless signed a contract with Nokia Networks, stating it will
head a major update to iWireless' 2G, 3G, 4G and making an LTE network in July. The
deal stated it will include the use of Nokia Network's Single RAN Advanced platform
and Flexi Multiradio 10 base stations to support 2G, 3G, and LTE services, its
Evolved Packet Core network to upgrade iWireless current packet core to support
LTE; and Nokias Subscriber Data Management system "to provide access to subscriber
data and support the launch of new services." Nokia Networks will also handle
network implementation, planning and optimization. Nokia Networks stated that it is
the sole supplier of iWireless' radio and core network in support of their legacy
2G network and 3G/4G HSPA+ services, with the latest expansion maintaining that
exclusive relationship. The updates and LTE equipment is expected to help iWireless
maintain network relationships with other mobile operators, including a nationwide
roaming deal with T-Mobile US.[9]
On November 26, 2015 iWireless launched LTE service in Eastern Iowa.[10] LTE
coverage will expand in Iowa through 2017.
Products[edit]
iWireless offers Apple brand smartphones as well as some other popular smartphones.
Products like the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, Samsung Galaxy S7, the Nexus 5 by
Google, as well as more affordable smartphones.