Dish and nTelos have deployed broadband service in rural Virginia using wireless spectrum in the 2.5 GHz range. Broadband service speeds at the initial test sites are ranging from 20 Mbps to more than 50 Mbps, says Dish.

As part of the demonstration, nTelos and Dish have activated two wireless tower test sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Waynesboro and Afton, Va. Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent have provided equipment and assisted in the installation.

The trial differentiates itself from prior fixed broadband services by relying on professionally installed rooftop devices at customers’ homes, that are intended to deliver significant gain and throughput advantages over inside-the-home antenna solutions. Dish has deployed BandRich ruggedized outdoor routers with built-in high-gain antennas to receive the 2.5 GHz LTE signal.

Dish and nTelos have not disclosed details on the duration of the trial service or plans for expansion beyond the test sites.