South Slope Cooperative Communications has announced they will be extending fiber optic technology to homes and businesses in Oxford.
Construction of the fiber optic network is set to begin in August.
The pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of fiber connectivity for providing fast and dependable internet service for all, South Slope officials said in a release. The company’s new fiber network is built to handle the skyrocketing broadband usage stemming from virtual learning, working from home, telehealth, streaming and more. Fast speeds up to 1 Gig, including high upload speeds, will be available with the news service.
The expense that goes into building fiber networks, especially in rural areas, is often cost prohibitive. In 2020, South Slope was awarded a grant and loan through the USDA’s ReConnect Program totaling $5.4 million to expand fiber services in rural Oxford.
“At South Slope, we are committed to continually extending our network to help close the gap between those with connectivity and those without,” said South Slope CEO Chuck Deisbeck. “We are excited to bring this essential infrastructure to Oxford, starting now with connecting homes and businesses within city limits, followed by expanding to rural Oxford.”
During the fiber installation process, South Slope will replace its current network of copper cables with a network of fiber optic cables, which use light instead of electricity to carry a digital data signal. For more information, go to southslopefiber.com.