MetroNet this week announced plans to build the latest iteration of its advanced fiber-optic network in O’Fallon, Missouri, bringing gigabit-speed internet service to residents and businesses in that city for the first time.
Among the nation’s largest independently-owned 100 percent fiber-optic broadband network providers, Metronet said it will fully fund the new network's construction through a multi-million dollar investment. The provider expects construction to begin in O’Fallon next year, with the first customers coming online as neighborhood buildouts are completed.
The latest Gigabit City
MetroNet noted in a statement that only about 30% of households in the U.S. have access to the gigabit internet speeds (i.e. 1,000 megabits per second) which fiber-optic networks provide -- and that only a small handful of cities have fiber broadly available to its homes and businesses, earning them the title of “Gigabit City.”
O’Fallon is now on track to achieve that designation.
"The City of O’Fallon is pleased to welcome MetroNet to our community,” said O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy. “As the first city in the state of Missouri to which MetroNet will provide service, we are thrilled that residents and businesses will be among the first to have access to this new fiber-optic network option.”
The provider stated that O’Fallon residents will start seeing MetroNet trucks throughout the area as pre-construction begins. In new MetroNet markets, residents receive communication by mail about construction activity in their neighborhood 30 days prior to starting, and the company provides additional messaging, such as yard signs, to let residents know when the temporary construction process is beginning in their neighborhood. MetroNet crews are identified by ID tags and branded MetroNet vehicles.
“Our future-proofed network has proven valuable to the cities we partner with, and we are proud to bring that opportunity to Missouri through this partnership with O’Fallon,” commented John Cinelli, MetroNet CEO.
Cinelli added, “Cities are faced with a variety of choices when trying to bridge the digital divide. MetroNet builds an impressive technical infrastructure without the use of public funds, which helps cities enormously. We are proud to have quickly become the nation’s largest and fastest growing, independently owned fiber-optic provider.”
O'Fallon storefront opportunities
As one of the fastest-growing providers of fully fiber-optic high-speed broadband services in the nation, MetroNet prides itself on its superior customer service, its delivery of affordable, symmetrical speeds — meaning both upload and download speeds — of up to 10 gigabits, and no long-term contracts to homes and businesses.
The company expects its network to be available to more than one million U.S. residential households and business locations in the near term, bringing competition for these services to hundreds of communities.
MetroNet said it will establish a retail storefront located in O’Fallon for local customers to have direct access to customer service and sales. Residents and businesses that are interested in MetroNet services may visit www.MetroNetInc.com to indicate their interest and to receive updates on construction.
Additionally, MetroNet plans to hire local market management positions, sales and customer service professionals and service technicians to support the O’Fallon area. Those interested in joining the MetroNet team can visit www.metronetinc.com/careers to search available positions and to submit applications.