CVTC: Providing Our Customers with State-of-the-Art Communication Services

Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative (CVTC) has proudly served the Valdez and Copper River Basin areas for more than 50 years. The company provides high-quality communication services, including residential and business landlines, call features, long-distance calling, high-speed internet, and wireless voice and data. CVTC also provides high-capacity special-access businesses and carrier services over a robust fiber and microwave network. ZTE Technologies recently interviewed Dave Dengel, CEO of CVTC. He talked about cooperation with ZTE, CVTC’s strategy, and the synergy between fixed and wireless networks.

Q: CVTC provides services in remote areas with low population densities. How can you succeed in such areas?

A: CVTC has been in business for more than 50 years. We know about remote regions, and we know who our customers are. It is challenging to provide both wireline and wireless voice and data services in regional areas. The distances between exchanges and cell sites are great, and sometimes helicopter access is required. We have a dedicated group of employees that understand our mission to be the telecommunications provider of choice and to provide our customers with state-of-the-art communications. Being a small rural carrier, CVTC has the flexibility to make strategic decisions quickly. 

Q: Someone said that capacity, speed and devices are the keys to success in the telecom industry. What is CVTC’s perspective?

A: Over the past decade, CVTC has been deploying fiber and microwave in our network. We have more than 360 miles of fiber and two major microwave links. This network allows us to provide high-speed, high-capacity backhaul from our cell sites and from other wireless providers in our region. Our network can also be scaled to increase capacity in line with usage. Devices are another issue. As a small carrier, we are at the whim of manufactures and larger carriers. However, we are seeing some progress in small rural carriers being able to access devices.

Q: You are also president of the board at RTG. Tell us more about RTG.

A: The Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) is the only national trade association representing rural wireless carriers that serve less than 100,000 subscribers. The mission of RTG is to promote wireless opportunities for rural telecommunications companies through advocacy and education. We strive to regularly update our members on regulatory and legislative issues. RTG staff are extremely active at the Federal Communications Commission and in Washington. We have a highly engaged membership base, and this is critical to RTG’s ability to direct policymaking towards rural wireless telecommunications.

Q: Last year you announced that CVTC would provide LTE by the fall of 2013. Could you update us on your 4G LTE deployment?

A: We are still on schedule to launch LTE in the fourth quarter of this year. We will begin to deploy the cell sites once the snow has melted later this spring. CVTC is already planning to expand the LTE network in 2014.

Q: What have been your concerns in the transition from 3G to 4G? How have you dealt with them?

A: Our biggest concern has been operating and maintaining two separate networks while transitioning to a full 4G network. We have been able to do this; however, our extra power and backhaul requirements have been expensive. The other concern has been access to devices. This has required dual-mode 3G/4G.

Q: How will you synergize your fixed and wireless networks?

A: CVTC’s wireline and wireless businesses support each other by offering bundled services. By bundling, we can provide our customers with lower DSL internet prices. Many of our cell sites are co-located with our wireline sites. This allows us to reduce operating costs for both networks.

Q: How has ZTE contributed to CVTC’s development? In which areas do you think we can strengthen our collaboration?

A: ZTE enabled CVTC to enter the digital wireless arena in 2007. The support we received from ZTE has helped us grow network and increase the number of services we offer to our customers. Collaboration could be improved if ZTE were to increase its R&D presence in the United States. At times, it has been difficult for CVTC to troubleshoot issues because of the cultural and time barriers in dealing with China. We would also like to see a greater offering of fully tested small-cell equipment that CVTC could use to improve coverage without deploying a full cell site.

Q: What is CVTC’s strategy?