Small Town Connects to Big Data Pipeline
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEllettsville-based Smithville Communications has completed a high-speed fiber-optics project in another rural town. Gigabit-level connectivity is now available in the Posey County community of Griffin, which has a population of less than 200. January 16, 2014
News Release
GRIFFIN, Ind. – The future of 21st century communications has come to the Griffin area as Smithville Communications has completed a fiber-optics rebuild project as part of its more than $90 million initiative to replace all of copper-based “twisted-pair” platforms in its service areas.
“Fiber-optic platforms are the future for Internet usage, IPTV television, data transmission and voice communications,” said Darby McCarty, President and CEO of Smithville Communications. “Copper- and coaxial cable-based systems have physical limitations concerning quality and capacity, while fiber-optics represents a platform that is virtually unlimited.”
Called the “state champion for Hoosier-based high-speed gigabit fiber connectivity” by Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, Smithville Communications selected Griffin as part of its rural fiber expansion initiative.
“Gigabit-level Internet connectivity represents the future in communications, and it is great that Smithville Communications has brought this significant technology advancement to a rural area like Griffin,” said Congressman Larry Bucshon, representative of Indiana's Eighth District and Chairman of the House Science Space and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Research and Technology. “Gigabit connectivity is a game-changer in terms of quality of life and potential economic development, and I welcome important investments like the one made by Smithville Communications in Southern Indiana.”
“With Smithville fiber, the Griffin area now has 'Google-quality' gigabit Internet capacity,” said Ms. McCarty, referring to how Google has launched gigabit connectivity initiatives in Austin, Texas, Kansas City and Provo, Utah. “This high-speed connectivity provides all kinds of opportunities for small business expansion and quality of life issues for the Griffin area.”
This would include the potential attraction of companies who need gigabit-level high-speed connectivity for their business operations. “Experts in economic development have recently noted the strong impact gigabit fiber connectivity can have on growth, so Smithville fiber coupled with Griffin's close location to I-64 could result ultimately in new economic development opportunities for the region,” Ms. McCarty said.
Fiber-optic connectivity allows the use of the advanced IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) to carry high definition television shows, movies and special productions. As industry experts note, IPTV deployments, network security and performance are tightly managed to ensure a superior entertainment experience, resulting in a compelling business environment for content providers, advertisers and customers alike.
The Smithville CEO also noted that the company will turn up all fiber customers to a full gigabit of connectivity – the top residential Internet speed available in Indiana – for the month of March. This high-speed connectivity is being offered as a one month free upgrade to all Smithville fiber customers so they can experience the real power of gigabit Internet connectivity.
Locally, the company is offering a special promotion for Griffin residents who can receive fiber-based services on Friday, January 17. Residents who are interested can come to the Depot restaurant in Griffin on January 17. Smithville professionals will be there from 4-7 p.m. to answer questions about the capabilities of fiber.
About Smithville
Founded nearly 90 years ago as the Monroe County Telephone Company, privately owned Smithville is now Indiana's largest independent telecom company with more than 140 employees. Smithville is deploying Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) services, which with speeds ranging from 1-10 Gbps provides the fastest connectivity available in Indiana to business, institutions and consumers. The company currently serves about 23,000 businesses and residences in southern and central Indiana. Its subsidiary Smithville Telecom provides fiber-based connectivity, data consulting, network management and managed services for businesses, university campuses, biotechnology companies, healthcare providers and government offices in southern and other parts of Indiana, including Evansville, Lafayette and parts of the greater Indianapolis area. For more information, please visit www.smithville.net.
Source: Smithville Communications