Cable ONE (NYSE:CABO) is upgrading its Gulf Coast networks by investing $9 million in 2015 in technology, equipment, and infrastructure upgrades to improve area Internet, video and phone services. Over the past five years, the MSO has invested more than $28 million on the Gulf Coast. The company recently has been upgrading across its footprint generally, including system upgrades in Arizona, Oklahoma and North Dakota.
Upgrades in Cable ONE Gulf Coast markets include:
- Upgrades to the technology platform in the Biloxi/Ocean Springs/D'Iberville area include tripling the capacity of the company's high-speed data equipment through the addition of a third CMTS, reducing the number of customers served per node via continued node segmentation, adding additional circuit capacity to the company's fiber-optic backbone, and upgrading signal amplification electronics.
- Upgrades in the Gulfport/Long Beach area include tripling the capacity of the company's high-speed data equipment, adding additional circuit capacity to its fiber-optic backbone, the installation of two new CMTSs, and the replacement of more than 105,000 feet of cable. Additional upgrades later this year will include 12 node splits and the installation of a new node location.
- This fall, Cable ONE in Pascagoula plans to more than more than triple its fiber-optic backbone capacity and cable modem network infrastructure through 12-channel bonding. In early 2016, the company plans to install two new CMTSs. Cable ONE in Pascagoula recently invested nearly $150,000 in training local associates for the new evolution of products.
Cable ONE on the Gulf Coast will transition to all-digital service beginning in October. When the conversion is completed in early spring, Cable ONE will launch more than 40 new channels, primarily HD.
Cable ONE also recently increased Internet up- and downstream speeds on its Premier and Ultra plans as a free upgrade to new and existing Internet customers on the Gulf Coast. The Premier 60 Mbps plan was automatically upgraded to 75 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream, andthe Ultra 70 Mbps plan was automatically upgraded to 100 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream. Speeds up to 300 Mbps will be available to Cable ONE residential customers by 2016. Business customers currently have access to customized, dedicated Gigabit fiber-optic service through Cable ONE Business.