MidSouth Electric Co-op is in the midst of a multi-year fiber to the home (FTTH) deployment project. Broadband technical services company Conexon says it has won a contract to support the FTTH network effort, which will encompass deployment of 3000 miles of fiber.
MidSouth is based in Navasota, TX. The FTTH effort targets the delivery of internet, phone, and TV services to more than 25,000 homes and businesses. The first of these customers should see service this year. MidSouth also plans to leverage the fiber network to enhance is energy delivery and smart grid capabilities, including improved power outage response times, better load balancing, and more efficient electricity delivery, among other benefits.
Conexon is assisting MidSouth with broadband management services that include network design, engineering, and construction as well as vendor management. “The mission from day one has been to construct this project in the most efficient and cost-effective way with the main focus always being what's best for our members," said Kerry Kelton, MidSouth general manager and CEO. "Conexon is playing a large role in that and will be instrumental to our success. We selected Conexon because of the team's experience with other electric cooperatives and their ability to provide a wide range of services. They have a proven history of being committed to rural broadband."
"Every electric co-op in the nation can build a fiber network to every member," added Conexon Partner Jonathan Chambers. "It isn't a question of technology, population density, terrain, or demographics. The one indispensable ingredient is leadership. At MidSouth, Kerry has built as fine a leadership team as any I've met. I'm confident that they will take their skills and knowledge of electricity and water and apply them now to broadband. This is a great project with a great future."
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.