Thumb Cellular

Last updated
Thumb Cellular LLC
Company type Private
FoundedAugust, 1991;32 years ago (August, 1991)
FounderJohn Eichler
Number of locations
4
Area served
The Thumb
Products 4G LTE, CDMA, SMS (text messaging), MMS (picture messaging), iPhone, Android
Services Mobile communications
Number of employees
40+
Parent Agri-Valley Communications, Inc.
Website https://www.thumbcellular.com/

Thumb Cellular LLC [1] is a regional wireless service provider that services the Thumb region of the US state of Michigan. The company is a subsidiary of Agri-Valley Communications, Inc. [2] It consists of 4 locations in Bad Axe, Caro, Pigeon, and Sandusky. Thumb Cellular is a mobile virtual network operator of Verizon Wireless. [3] Their current CEO is Edwin H. Eichler, the son of the founder, John Eichler. [4]

Contents

History

A Now Retired 3G Thumb Cellular Tower (right) in Windy Hill Campground, south of Port Austin Thumb Cellular Towers.webp
A Now Retired 3G Thumb Cellular Tower (right) in Windy Hill Campground, south of Port Austin

Thumb Cellular was founded in August 1991 in Pigeon by Edwin and Neal Eichler as a split off from Pigeon Telephone which itself was founded by their father, John Eichler. It began with one office in Pigeon, 4 cellular towers, and 5 employees. Thumb Cellular has since expanded to 4 locations, 40+ employees, and 45 cellular towers. [5]

In 2011, Thumb Cellular joined the Verizon Rural LTE program, which brought Thumb Cellular to the Verizon Wireless network, and provided them with 4G LTE connectivity for the first time, but their 4G LTE towers were not finished being installed until January 2013. [6] [7]

Locations

Thumb Cellular currently has 4 locations:

No new locations are expected to be opened as the Thumb has been losing population, meaning the demand for a cellular provider is expected to not increase anytime soon. [8]

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References

  1. "THUMB CELLULAR LLC :: Michigan (US) :: OpenCorporates". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  2. Creenan, By Robert. "From Farms to Telephones". Huron Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  3. "Thumb Cellular Latest Rural Carrier to Partner with Verizon for 4G LTE". www.telecompetitor.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  4. "About Thumb Cellular". Thumb Cellular. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  5. "About Thumb Cellular". Thumb Cellular. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  6. Leins, Tom. "Meet the Cellcos Serving Rural America: Part 2". blog.telegeography.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  7. "Thumb Cellular Latest Rural Carrier to Partner with Verizon for 4G LTE". www.telecompetitor.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  8. Gilchrist, Tom (2021-10-20). "Survey says: Thumb, Great Lakes Bay lose people". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-05-25.