RST Fiber lights up America’s first 'Gigabit State'

RST Fiber reports that it has activated its 3100-mile underground fiber-optic network that connects metro areas across North Carolina. The company says it is the first privately owned company in the U.S. to introduce and activate a 100G backbone network employing carrier-grade IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6).

RST's network offers up to 100-Gbps symmetrical broadband service to businesses and homes in metropolitan and rural communities statewide, including many that have little or no access to basic broadband connections. In addition to broadband, services will include uncompressed 4K television, VoIP, online education, telemedicine, HD video security/surveillance, a la carte movies and programming, smart grid connectivity/transport, and other emerging new technologies. Video and television services are expected to launch by the end of the second quarter 2014. RST is also deploying carrier-class Wi-Fi capable of delivering gigabit symmetrical wireless service network-wide.

RST says its network operates using significantly less energy than other networks. Because the fiber is almost entirely underground, maintenance requirements and outages - especially those from extreme weather conditions - are significantly reduced. This enables RST to deliver end-to-end, premium-quality fiber services at lower cost and with greater reliability, the company claims.

RST's network is built on Cisco’s Evolved Programmable Network (EPN), which combines a number of technologies including the Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS 2000). The Cisco EPN offers a massively scalable, smarter, and more adaptable Internet along with countless other fiber-related services, the systems vendor asserts.

"The network we have built is what Cisco CEO John Chambers describes as the ‘Internet of Everything,’" said Dan Limerick, co-founder of RST Fiber. "Our goal is to ensure that communities across the Tar Heel State and the upstate of South Carolina will have access to ultra-high-speed broadband and many other fiber-delivered services a network like this can provide, helping to level the economic and educational playing field for everyone.”

“The next-generation Internet offers innovative companies like RST a unique opportunity to deliver seamless, personalized services and also capitalizes on emerging Internet of Everything market opportunities,” said Surya Panditi, senior vice president and general manager, service provider networking group, Cisco. “Using Cisco’s Evolved Programmable Network, RST can optimize service delivery in new ways while growing its business and delivering new network experiences to customers – in major metropolitan areas, as well as in rural parts of the state. RST represents the service provider network of the future and is well aligned with Cisco’s vision.”

Founded in 2010 and privately funded by Cleveland County natives Limerick, Doug Brown, and Randy Revels, RST's vision is to change and improve technology opportunities throughout the Carolinas. Limerick, Brown, and Revels joined forces after it became clear each had an interest in building a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network in their home county, an area severely affected by the relocation of the textile industry and high unemployment in recent years (see “RST Global Communications plans to light up the Carolinas” and "RST Global Communications expands North Carolina fiber-optic network").

“Ensuring that North Carolina has the next-generation infrastructure and fiber networks needed to carry our data traffic and provide broadband services to our businesses, community institutions, and citizens is critical,” said North Carolina commerce secretary Sharon Decker. “We appreciate RST Global’s investment in North Carolina and look forward to working with them to continue to push broadband deployment and growth, allowing for increased opportunities in economic development, education, and efficiency for our state.”

RST Fiber's clients currently include data centers, municipalities, healthcare organizations, schools and universities, businesses, and homes.

For more information on FTTx/access systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.