Navajo Nation partners on wireless venture

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – The Navajo Nation's utility company and a wholesale wireless provider have joined to upgrade telecommunications services on the vast reservation.

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and Commnet Wireless, LLC announced the partnership Monday. The tribe purchased a majority ownership of a Commnet subsidiary to create NTUA Wireless, LLC.

The utility's general manager says the deployment of 3G wireless cell phone and 4G broadband services will take a couple of years. When it's complete, about 80 percent of residents on the reservation will have access to the broadband network.

The tribe's goal is to get into the retail market.

That plan is largely dependent on the federal government's approval of a subsidy that would allow low-income residents to purchase service plans for as little as $1 a month.