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Associated Carriers Group (ACG) Partners with Sky Peak Technologies 

Grand Junction, Colorado – Sky Peak Technologies is excited to announce a marketing and sales agreement for their innovative technology CORASM Mobile Edge (ME) with Associated Carriers Group (ACG) – a consortium of Tier 2 and Tier 3 mobile network operators and resellers who use their combined subscriber base to leverage purchase prices for devices, technology, software, and other solutions that benefit its members. The agreement provides ACG members with preferential pricing and a pre-negotiated master services agreement while also supporting ACG. 

“The CORA ME application is the innovative, cost-saving technology ACG member carriers need to compete in a highly competitive marketplace. CORA Mobile Edge gives them the edge they need!” says ACG’s President Russ Lipinski.

Sky Peak Technologies’ groundbreaking on-device smart content-shaping solution provides mobile network operators (MNOs) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) an affordable way to manage the growing onslaught of streaming video on mobile devices. This new solution tackles the increasing consumption of over-the-top streaming content at the device level to optimize the entire data delivery process.

“We are excited to partner with ACG and bring our patented technology to its members,” says Cat Coughran-McIntosh, CEO and co-founder of Sky Peak Technologies. “Mobile telecommunication providers currently rely on outdated technologies to address a new and growing problem – delivering streaming video content over the mobile network to mobile devices. Without a modern solution purposefully built for the problem, operators face network inefficiencies, poor user experiences, and high data delivery costs. These issues are especially costly for the smaller operators, making them vulnerable to competition. Most consumers don’t understand that these operators are vital to keeping data costs low and network coverage strong.”

Currently, 80% of the data volume on the cellular network is from streaming video content, and experts predict the total data traffic will double in just five years. “In just the last few years, the demand for streaming video worldwide has exploded and is predicted to increase drastically year over year. The cost of using premium cellular bandwidth to deliver streaming video services to customers is an increasing burden to MVNOs and regional/rural MNOs,” says Coughran-McIntosh. “Our flagship product, CORASM Mobile Edge (ME), elegantly shapes data-intensive streaming video and ‘rightsizes’ it for the device requesting it before it reaches the last mile network. CORA ME smart shaping technology delivers a great user experience with considerably less data, thus reducing the bandwidth and energy needed to keep pace with this voracious streaming video consumption.”

With up to an 88% reduction in resources needed to deliver data-intensive content to mobile devices, the core value proposition of CORA ME is to enable operators to create happier subscribers by giving them more of the streaming video content they crave while, at the same time, freeing up the network for other operations and creating a more profitable environment for operators. Even operators using a network compression tool or other on-network traffic management strategy can see an additional 30% or more savings on data delivery while enhancing the user experience. 

By utilizing CORA ME’s smart-shaping technology for all smartphones and tablets that stream video while accessing the cellular network, operators can: 

  • Take control of streaming video and handle increased data traffic more efficiently, independent of on-network traffic management appliances.
  • Free up the network for other operations and grow subscriber count.
  • Leverage the demand for streaming video content to their advantage with CORA ME’s AI-driven shaping logic.
  • Create streaming-content-focused plans that increase top-line revenue and improve profitability. 
  • Deliver more streaming video content to subscribers AND drastically lower data delivery and energy costs while improving bandwidth and spectrum utilization.
  • Quickly deploy CORA ME to the subscriber base via several scalable and configurable options.
  • Obtain valuable anonymized behavior intelligence to understand subscriber streaming behaviors better.
  • Utilize Sky Peak Technologies’ technical and marketing support to assist with deployment, provisioning, and adoption.
  • Trust that subscribers’ privacy and information are safe. Sky Peak Technologies has completed an initial security assessment based on ISO27001:2022 and OWASP criteria.

About Associated Carriers Group:

ACG is a group of Tier 2 and 3 mobile network operators and resellers focused on reducing costs for their members by aggregating the purchase volume of the combined membership. This aggregation assists in negotiating the costs of goods and technology and increases access to mobile devices. 

ACG also tests and approves devices as a group, allowing OEM and ODM partners to more efficiently deploy their internal resources, ultimately resulting in lower costs to the group. ACG is a legal entity that allows the opportunity to share technical data among members, which all members agree is invaluable to day-to-day operations. Learn more at: https://associatedcarriergroup.com/

About Sky Peak Technologies:
At Sky Peak Technologies, we believe everyone everywhere should have access to data-intensive content regardless of where they live, their economic status, or other circumstances. That is why we develop and distribute bold and novel technologies that enable all people to share ideas and knowledge, making our world more culturally connected and educated while protecting the remarkable resources of our planet. Learn more at: skypeaktechnologies.com

Press Contact:

Kristin McBreen

kmcbreen@skypeaktech.com

240-626-9913

National Content & Technology Cooperative (“NCTC”) Joins the Associated Carrier Group (“ACG”)

Bringing all the Benefits of ACG Membership to the NCTC Members Launching MVNO Services

Las Vegas, Nevada January 9th, 2024 – News coming out of the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV this week, National Content & Technology Cooperative has become a member of the Associated Carrier Group.

The NCTC recently announced the development of a program that allows its approximately 700 member companies to easily launch their own MVNO services. With this new program NCTC has developed many strategic partnerships, including access to the most reliable mobile network, operational and marketing support, and to a premium MVNO platform.

The membership with ACG, with their decades of experience and the immediate scale of the two million wireless subscribers that they already represent, jumpstarts the NCTC’s MVNO program by taking advantage of discounted agreements with strategic OEMs in the mobile space. This buying power will encompass the ability for NCTC members to offer more mobile devices and accessories at competitive pricing utilizing ACG’s volume discounts.

“Enabling our member companies to easily offer mobile phone service is the newest and most exciting connectivity service to be introduced from NCTC, and this new membership with ACG compliments our portfolio of strategic partners to help our members launch a successful mobile solution to their customers”. said Lou Borrelli, CEO, NCTC

“We are confident that ACG’s mission of aggregating the purchasing power and the corresponding savings on handsets, accessories and network infrastructure will help provide NCTC and its members the means to attain its goal of continuing to compete in the ultra-competitive wireless carrier space.” said Russ Lipinski, President, ACG

Being at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas gives NCTC the opportunity to work with cutting edge mobile service, equipment, technology providers in the world and this is just one of many continued partnerships NCTC will launch in the coming weeks and months.

About the National Content & Technology Cooperative

The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) is a Kansas-based, not-for profit corporation that operates as a programming, broadband solutions, and hardware purchasing organization for its member companies serving one-third of connected households in the U.S. and its territories. NCTC seeks to maximize current and future opportunities to ensure the profitability, competitive stature, and long-term sustainability of its member companies. NCTC represents almost 700 independent cable and broadband operators across the U.S. in programming and technology acquisition. NCTC is actively engaged in helping network providers, and suppliers evolve their business models to deploy new video/data solutions to match the changes in the media landscape. For more information, visit: https://nctconline.org

About Associated Carrier Group

ACG was formed to benefit both its members and the consumer by facilitating efficient production and marketing of devices as well as technical device testing. The consortium enables its members to work with manufacturers, suppliers and other vendors to acquire more timely access to relevant LTE & CDMA devices. ACG presently has thirty six Member Carriers based in various markets throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. More information is available at www.associatedcarriergroup.com.

Media Contacts:
Pam Gilles for NCTC
pgillies@nctconline.org
(720) 594-8085

Associated Carrier Group (ACG) partners with Ozmo for mobile carrier support

BLACKSBURG, Va., January 24, 2021 – Associated Carrier Group (ACG) has partnered with Ozmo to provide its base of mobile network operators and resellers with access to scaled omnichannel tech support for hundreds of mobile devices.

The partnership began in December 2021 with ACG signing a two-year agreement with Ozmo. Under the agreement, ACG members will have access to Ozmo’s core platform including its contact center, self-serve and digital adoption support solutions to enable members with comprehensive tech support and assist with any customer interactions. 

ACG members will also have the opportunity to use Ozmo’s API, allowing them to integrate their preferred digital support content on all channels that their customers are leveraging, including self-help websites, within mobile apps and more.Learn more about Ozmo

ACG is excited to partner with Ozmo as their service is a key component in assisting our members’ customers to better understand and troubleshoot their mobile phones, especially in a time where more and more people are working remotely.Russ Lipinski, President of the Associated Carrier Group

The telecom consortium has members within the wireless carrier and reseller industries including Ozmo customers such as C Spire, Cellcom, Appalachian Wireless, Carolina West and Thumb Cellular. 

“Our team couldn’t be more excited about the latest partnership with ACG and we’re eager to provide the same unmatched support that Ozmo offers its customers to the members of the Associated Carrier Group,” said Troy Cross, Head of Business Development, North America at Ozmo.

ACG members can expect benefits from the Ozmo partnership, including discounts and pre-release access to devices and more. 


About Associated Carrier Group

ACG was formed to benefit both its members and the consumer by facilitating efficient production and marketing of devices as well as technical device testing. The consortium enables its members to work with manufacturers, suppliers and other vendors to acquire more timely access to relevant LTE & CDMA devices. ACG presently has thirty-six Member Carriers based in various markets throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. More information is available at www.associatedcarriergroup.com.

About Ozmo

Ozmo is a technology company headquartered in Blacksburg, Va. that creates software to solve tech support at scale. The omnichannel Ozmo support platform is home to tens of thousands of answers that can be served up across all support channels – from the traditional, agent-assisted to digital, self-serve channels. Ozmo’s platform assists in over 25 million support interactions each year for customers that span the wireless, device hardware, tech insurance, home internet, connected home and business voice spaces.

The Associated Carrier Group selects Google as its preferred partner for CBRS SAS Services

De Pere, Wisconsin. (September 30, 2019) – The Associated Carrier Group (ACG)  today announced that it has selected Google  to offer Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) Spectrum Access System (SAS) services to its membership.

The new agreement gives ACG members access to best-in-class SAS services and allows its members to actively pursue rural broadband initiatives. With anticipated speeds of 50-100 Mbps, CBRS will enhance speed while extending coverage and capacity of LTE networks.

CBRS is a unique spectrum sharing model that uses the 3.5 GHz band, often referred to as ‘the innovation band.’ Recognizing that the band’s physical characteristics make it well suited for mobile broadband, the Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) freed up the spectrum for commercial use by establishing CBRS. By utilizing a spectrum sharing approach, CBRS lowers barriers to entry and reduces costs of deployment, while improving data rates and protecting incumbent users of the band.

“An important way we advance Google’s mission is by ensuring  businesses and consumers everywhere have access to high-quality Internet connections ,” said Dave Vadasz, business development lead at Google. “Our agreement with ACG will allow more service providers to take advantage of spectrum sharing, and bring fixed wireless broadband access and additional wireless capacity to underserved areas. We’re excited to see it spawn innovation and opportunities and continue to cultivate a thriving CBRS ecosystem.”

Said Russ Lipinski, president, ACG. “With access to Google’s suite of cloud-based products and services for CBRS, including network planning, reporting tools and a highly reliable Spectrum Access System and Environmental Sensing Capabilities (ESC) network, ACG members will be well positioned for long-term success in spectrum sharing.”

About Associated Carrier Group

ACG was formed to benefit both its members and the consumer by facilitating efficient production and marketing of devices as well as technical device testing. The consortium enables its members to work with manufacturers, suppliers and other vendors to acquire more timely access to relevant LTE & CDMA devices. ACG presently has thirty-six Member Carriers based in various markets throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. More information is available at www.associatedcarriergroup.com.

Please Welcome Our Newest Member to the ACG – Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc.

Associated Carrier Group is pleased to welcome Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc. (ASTAC) and offer them the full benefit of being a member.  “We are confident that ACG’s mission of aggregating for purchasing power and the corresponding savings on handsets, accessories and network infrastructure will help provide ASTAC the means to attain its goal of continuing to compete in the ultra-competitive wireless carrier space.”

“ASTAC is excited to join the Associated Carrier Group. The benefits of our membership will allow ASTAC to offer more wireless devices and accessories at competitive prices which can be challenging due to the location and size of our market.”  – Kassie Anderson, Consumer Product Manager.

ASTAC is a member-owned telephone utility Cooperative providing telecommunications services to the residents of the North Slope region of Alaska. The Cooperative’s designated service area is a roadless, remote arctic area of more than 90,000 square miles which is larger than 40 of the 50 states.

ASTAC provides Broadband Ethernet and Internet, 4G and LTE wireless as well as local and long-distance services across the North Slope. Additionally, ASTAC offers a Nomadic WAN and Internet service using the North Slope’s only private LTE network covering the oil fields.

To learn more about our newest member, go to: https://www.astac.net/.

Associated Carrier Group, Sprint and Competitive Carriers Association Support Regional Carriers

Associated Carrier Group, Sprint and Competitive Carriers Association Support Regional Carriers with Improved Access to Devices New agreement integrates Device Hub into ACG September 24, 2018 Associated Carrier Group (ACG), Sprint and Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) are collaborating to offer Device Hub services to ACG members, providing regional and smaller carriers with a one-stop solution for timely access to devices.

In an increasingly demanding device ecosystem, assisting smaller carriers in gaining access to hard-to-reach devices is crucial in maintaining a competitive environment. ACG was formed to benefit both its members and consumers by facilitating efficient production and marketing of devices. The consortium enables its members to work with manufacturers, suppliers and other vendors to quickly develop and procure scarce or difficult to obtain products through economies of scale and standardization of coding and other features. Since its inception in 2005, ACG has given its members access to 11 million devices.

Russ Lipinski, president and executive director of ACG, said, “This agreement is another critical step in allowing small- to medium-sized carriers access to niche products and other devices that are challenging to secure.”

CCA strongly supports the evolution of the Device Hub into ACG, and the organization’s ongoing efforts to assist regional carriers in gaining access to devices. “The partnership will continue to advance, build and leverage ACG’s buying power and, ultimately, allow for greater competition. It’s a win for both carriers and customers,” said Steven K. Berry, CCA President and CEO.

Jay Bluhm, Vice President of Network Development and Engineering at Sprint said, “Sprint is committed to helping smaller carriers get access to the devices their customers want. We are excited for the new agreement with ACG to bring a combined device roadmap to regional carriers using procurement processes they are already familiar with and an activation process enabling these devices to work seamlessly on their networks.”

About Associated Carrier Group:

ACG was formed to benefit both its members and the consumer by facilitating efficient production and marketing of devices as well as technical device testing. The consortium enables its members to work with manufacturers, suppliers and other vendors to acquire more timely access to relevant LTE & CDMA devices.  ACG presently has thirty-one Member Carriers based in various markets throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.   More information is available at www.associatedcarriergroup.com.

About CCA:

CCA is the nation’s leading association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the United States. The licensed service area of CCA’s nearly 100 carrier members covers 95 percent of the nation. Visit www.ccamobile.org.

About Sprint:

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 54.6 million connections as of June 30, 2018 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint’s legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching the first 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint

Russ Lipinski

President & Executive Director

Associated Carrier Group, LLC.

920-617-3007

russ@associatedcarriergroup.com

Please Welcome Our Newest Member to the Associated Carrier Group – Pine Belt Wireless

Associated Carrier Group is pleased to welcome Pine Belt Wireless and offer them the full benefit of being a member.  “We are confident that ACG’s mission of aggregating for purchasing power and the corresponding savings on handsets, accessories and network infrastructure will help provide Pine Belt the means to attain its goal of continuing to compete in the ultra-competitive wireless carrier space.”

“Being able to offer our customers the latest phones, devices and accessories is essential to Pine Belt continuing to be a competitive local alternative in the wireless industry,” said John Nettles, President of Pine Belt Wireless.  “As a partner with ACG, we will be able to offer Pine Belt customers the handsets they want and service they can only get from a local provider.”

Since 1958, Pine Belt Wireless has sought to provide the highest quality communication services, building a state-of-the-art wireless, telephone, internet and cable television company which has put up towers in places where their customers have put down roots in Alabama.  The five words under their logo “Neighbors You Can Call On” aren’t just a part of their logo, but who they are. 

To learn more about our newest member, go to http://www.pinebelt.net.

ACG & TESSCO Partner to Offer Discounted Training Opportunities for Members

The Expanded  Relationship Promises to Lower the Total Cost of Technical Training

HUNT VALLEY,  Md.— Jan. 19, 2017—TESSCO Technologies (NASDAQ: TESS), As part of the ongoing relationship between Associated Carrier Group (ACG) and TESSCO Technologies, ACG members can now access TESSCO’s comprehensive training curriculum at special reduced prices. ACG members can enroll in Cisco certified courses in addition to any of TESSCO’s other courses at significant discounts from their normal rates.

TESSCO offers training across a range of subjects from expert instructors and includes unique, hands-on experiences and specially curated curriculums for their courses that deliver exceptionally high pass rates among attendees. Many courses include certification testing at their conclusion and offer an opportunity to obtain required credentials at a low cost.

“TESSCO is excited to partner with ACG and offer this exceptional value on crucial training to its members,” Justin Warren, TESSCO Segment Sales Leader, said. “This collaboration further demonstrates the unmatched opportunities available to ACG members and TESSCO’s continued commitment to being a true partner for the group.”

“Our relationship with TESSCO provides a lot of great benefits to our members,” ACG President and Executive Director Russ Lipinski added. “Getting access to these critical training courses at a discount and with TESSCO’s added customer service will ensure our members stay up to date on certifications and at the forefront of the latest information.”

About TESSCO (NASDAQ: TESS)

The convergence of wireless and the Internet is revolutionizing the way we live, work and play.  New systems and applications are creating challenges and opportunities at an unprecedented rate. TESSCO is there‒enabling organizations to capitalize on the opportunities in wireless by providing Your Total Source® of end-to-end solutions. TESSCO delivers the knowledge, product and supply chain solutions required to build, use, maintain, and resell Cellular, Mobile Communications, Wi-Fi, Machine-to-Machine, Internet of Things, Wireless Backhaul, and Monitoring & Control systems. For more information, visit TESSCO.com or connect with us on TwitterLinkedIn and Facebook.

About ACG

ACG was formed to benefit both its members and the consumer by facilitating efficient production and marketing of devices as well as increased competition. The consortium enables its members to work with manufacturers, suppliers and other vendors to acquire more timely access to relevant CDMA devices. ACG presently has 31 Member Carriers based in various markets throughout the United States. More information is available at www.associatedcarriergroup.com.

Please welcome our newest Affiliate Member to Associated Carrier Group – Wireless Partners

Wireless Partners

Wireless Partners launched LTE service in “Downeast, Maine” in October of 2015.  As a Verizon LRA partner the company installed “32 new sites of coverage”.   Wireless Partners is a trusted, proven provider of carrier-grade wireless telecommunication solutions.  They design, build, own and operate advanced cellular networks for unserved and underserved rural markets.  Rural cellular services provide an essential part of everyday life by supporting better economic opportunities, safer communities, and by providing high-speed broadband internet access. Wireless Partners is located in Portland, Maine.  For more information, visit www.wireless-partnersllc.com 

– “Wireless Partners is very excited to join the Associated Carriers Group.  As a small rural carrier it makes sense to partner with other smaller carriers who face similar challenges.  We believe that ACG’s strong vendor relationships will lead to improved network operations through supply chain management and product pricing.”  

Todd Rich, Director of Asset Management & Site Acquisitions 

Wireless Partners LLC

– “The addition of Tessco Infrastructure discounts is creating great opportunities for Affiliate Program Participants!  We are excited to add Wireless Partners to the Affiliate program!”

Russ Lipinski, President & Executive Director

Associated Carrier Group

Please welcome our newest Affiliate Member to Associated Carrier Group – NewCore Wireless

NewCore Wireless

NewCore Wireless is the leading full-service hosted wireless switching provider offering solutions to carriers. Our Switching Platforms are capable of providing 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS) and 4G (LTE) wireless services.  We also provide Value Added Services like SMS, MMS, voicemail, prepaid, E911, CALEA and CMAS that allow small carriers the opportunity to compete on the same level as Tier 1 carriers.  NewCore Wireless was founded in 2008 with the mission of providing innovative technology solutions to rural carriers that deliver scalable, end-to-end solutions.  We offer each of our network partners the flexibility to run their own wireless business without the added expense of the core network.   The company is headquartered in St. Cloud, MN.    For more information, visit www.newcorewireless.net

“We look forward to the savings ACG can offer New Core on our infrastructure build outs” .  Albert Kangas, General Manager & COO, NewCore Wireless.

 “Driving value to our members is at the core of what we do at Associated Carrier Group and we are very pleased to have New Core as a new affiliate program participant.” 

Russ Lipinski, President & Executive Director, ACG