Case Study: Private LTE Network Connects Rural Students for Remote Learning in School District To bridge the digital divide for students in underserved communities, a Nokia Private LTE network was deployed to connect a rural school district’s educational network. This site is one of six strategically placed CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) node sites that now deliver secure, high-speed broadband access to students across the district. The Challenge: Connecting Students Without Reliable Internet During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions faced an urgent need to support remote learning. Many students—especially in rural areas—had no access to reliable home internet. Some relied solely on smartphones for connectivity, while others faced data caps that made all-day online learning infeasible. It became clear that schools needed to take control of their own network infrastructure to ensure equitable access to digital education. The Problem with Traditional Solutions Initial solutions such as cellular hotspots and modems quickly became unsustainable. Monthly data plan limits resulted in unexpected costs, throttled connections, and unreliable service—particularly in high-usage households. The high cost of ongoing mobile broadband subscriptions made this model inefficient for long-term student connectivity. The Opportunity: Government Funding for Educational Broadband To address this national issue, the federal government launched funding initiatives such as the BEAD Program (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) through the NTIA, allocating $42.4 billion to expand broadband access across the country. Leveraging these funds, school districts began exploring Private LTE networks as a sustainable alternative to commercial mobile services. The Solution: Private LTE with Nokia and CBRS Frequencies Alpha Omega Wireless partnered with the school district to design and deploy a Private LTE network using Nokia CBRS radio systems. This network provides: • Dedicated, high-performance broadband access for students • Secure connectivity managed entirely by the school district • CBRS spectrum that reduces interference and avoids the congestion typical of Wi-Fi and public networks • Six node sites for broad geographic coverage and network resiliency • Lower total cost of ownership and fast return on investment (ROI) compared to recurring mobile carrier expenses Private LTE networks offer a long-term, scalable solution, giving school districts complete control over access, usage, and security—critical for protecting student data and ensuring reliable education delivery. The Results: Cost-Effective, High-Performance Student Connectivity With the Nokia Private LTE solution in place, the district has empowered students with consistent, high-speed internet access—even in remote areas—ensuring educational equity regardless of location. The district now has a resilient broadband infrastructure that can support digital learning for years to come, free from the limitations and costs of public cellular networks. ⸻ Bring Private LTE to Your School District or Community Alpha Omega Wireless specializes in Private LTE and CBRS network deployments for schools, municipalities, and rural communities. We design and install custom wireless infrastructure using Nokia, Ericsson, and Tarana systems to deliver secure, scalable, and cost-effective broadband access.