MS electric co-op taps Conexon for FTTH buildout

April 8, 2020
Mississippi-based Monroe County Electric Power Association (EPA) has selected Conexon to provide broadband management services including network design and engineering ...

Mississippi-based Monroe County Electric Power Association (EPA) has selected Conexon to provide broadband management services including network design and engineering, construction management, and customer support for the association's fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.

Monroe County EPA plans to begin construction on the network by 4Q 2020, with the first customers expected to be connected by early 2021. The four-year buildout is planned to span 1,500 miles of fiber, serve 100% of the power association's 10,800 members and is anticipated to cost in the range of $29 million.

"Monroe County EPA board of director member Tom Crook once told me about his grandfather's role in establishing Monroe County EPA, which was the first REA (now RUS) electric co-op in the country," Conexon Partner Jonathan Chambers said. "There's a wonderful continuity with the board's decision to build a fiber-optic network. Monroe County EPA has sustained the community with electricity for over 80 years. It will now bring that same commitment to service and provide both electricity and broadband to the community for the next 80 years."

"I appreciate the trust Barry and the board have placed in Conexon. We take that trust seriously and look forward to a great success."

Monroe County EPA has formed a broadband subsidiary called M-Pulse Fiber, through which members will have access to a network designed to deliver symmetrical gigabit Internet capabilities. The all-fiber network is also intended to enable enhancements and smart grid capabilities to the electrical infrastructure such as improved power outage response times, better load balancing, and more efficient electricity delivery.

"We are excited about the opportunity of bringing world-class broadband services to our membership," said Barry Rowland, Monroe County EPA general manager. "It's important for us to offer the best service possible for our members, and that's a goal Conexon shares. From the first meeting, we immediately felt comfortable with the depth of their experience and expertise and ability to help us successfully deliver this."        

About the Author

BTR Staff

EDITORIAL
STEPHEN HARDY
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
[email protected]
MATT VINCENT
Senior Editor
[email protected]
SALES
KRISTINE COLLINS
Business Solutions Manager
(312) 350-0452
[email protected]
JEAN LAUTER
Business Solutions Manager
(516) 695-3899
[email protected]

Sponsored Recommendations

Meeting AI and Hyperscale Bandwidth Demands: The Role of 800G Coherent Transceivers

Nov. 25, 2024
Join us as we explore the technological advancements, features, and applications of 800G coherent modules, which will enable network growth and deployment in the future. During...

Next-Gen DSP advancements

Nov. 13, 2024
Join our webinar to explore how next-gen Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) are revolutionizing connectivity, from 400G/800G networks to the future of 1.6 Tbps, with insights on...

The Road to 800G/1.6T in the Data Center

Oct. 31, 2024
Join us as we discuss the opportunities, challenges, and technologies enabling the realization and rapid adoption of cost-effective 800G and 1.6T+ optical connectivity solutions...

Today, Tomorrow, and in The Future: The Status of AI/ML in Fiber-Optic Communications

Sept. 25, 2024
Struggling to balance customer demand with the challenges of network upgrades, rollout of new products and services, and guaranteeing service level agreements (SLAs)? Discover...