C Spire has deployed gigabit fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service in the Highlands, a residential subdivision in Jones County, MS, outside the city of Ellisville. Services include 1 Gbps Internet access, live streaming TV and digital home phone service.
C Spire began turning up FTTH services to homeowners in the first phase of the 300-lot Highlands development late last month. The service activation followed installation of fiber optic cable infrastructure in the subdivision late last year.
"To have this amazing technology is incredible," said Bruce Smith, an associate broker with Ellisville-based Magnolia Real Estate, who lives in the development. "We're very fortunate to have this option because most rural areas around the country don't have many choices or good service," he said.
Smith was one of the first customers to receive the company's gigabit-speed internet and streaming TV last month.
"Whether it's gamers or telecommuters who need to send and receive large files, C Spire's Gigabit service has changed everything," Smith said. "Installation was a great experience, and C Spire has the best installers who got me up and running in no time."
Ross Tucker, president and CEO of the Jones County Economic Development Authority, said the fiber-optic infrastructure should boost home values and potentially lure new high-tech business investment to the county. "It's happened in other areas, and there's no reason to believe it won't happen here, especially if C Spire continues to offer these services in our region."
In addition to gigabit, C Spire offers Highlands residents digital home phone service and app-based, live streaming digital TV service.
"Fiber-to-the-home is a revolutionary technology that promises to boost home values, broaden entertainment opportunities, help expand the local economy and improve the quality of life for everyone," said Ashley Phillips, general manager of the C Spire Home Services subsidiary that manages the company's FTTH and other related broadband internet access programs.
With the addition of the Highlands development, C Spire has rolled out gigabit internet access and related services in 13 Mississippi markets.