Many 1 Gbps rollouts this year have occurred in larger markets, for obvious reasons, not the least of which is that bigger cities tend to show a clearer path to return on investment with their built-in pool of customers. However, it’s not happening exclusively in the largest metros, as recent announcements from Alabama to Idaho to Arizona to Mississippi (and beyond) attest.
“Research shows us that communities with fiber connections experience economic revitalization,” President and CEO of MaxxSouth Broadband Peter Kahelin, observes. “A fiber network in a city can stimulate business activity and improve quality of life. And we get excited about news like this because we are a local company. We are committed to this community.”
Kahelin was speaking to a just-revealed MaxxSouth Broadband planned deployment of an advanced fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) 1 gigabit service in in Oxford, Miss. Government and community leaders showed up for a press event reviewing the launch, and they were quick to speak to the impact the advanced services could have in Oxford. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker noted that broadband was a very common theme that came up while he was campaigning around the state last year, and he said he understands the significant economic development and positive educational benefits that can come from having access to advanced broadband services even in smaller communities.
“We think this is going to mean a better quality of life and also a better way to create jobs,” Wicker says. “Not only for the big companies, which we all love, but the small startups. They need this type of fiber and today we’re announcing a great opportunity.”
Oxford is reportedly the third city in Mississippi where MaxxSouth operates as a fiber network. In 2015, FTTH was launched in Starkville, and in 2014, a fiber net was launched in Carthage.
MaxxSouth reports the initial phase of the project will serve approximately 3,000 homes in Oxford, and expected completion is set for early 2017. Over the next few years, the op says it plans to build out FTTH service areas throughout the state’s Lafayette County.
