ADTRAN, Inc., (NASDAQ:ADTN) says that more than 350 communities receive gigabit broadband based on its equipment. The company says that non-traditional operators make up a sizeable portion of its gigabit customer base.
While acknowledging the work of mainstream communications providers in the gigabit wave, ADTRAN says its roster of gigabit customers include utilities, cable network operators, real estate developers and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs). Examples include:
- Utility: Guadalupe Valley Electric Co-op stepped up in South Central Texas when the previous broadband infrastructure provider was unable to deliver high-speed connectivity to support the regions' manufacturing hub and food-related industries, according to ADTRAN. The co-op plans to expand its gigabit offerings to additional areas in its South Central Texas region as well.
- Cable operator: enTouch has leveraged ADTRAN equipment to provide broadband services to residential and commercial customers in the Houston metroplex. The company offers 1-Gbps internet, cable, and phone bundles.
- Real estate developer: Thunder Enterprises took matters into its own hands when it was unable to attract a gigabit broadband provider for its new residential community, Jasper Highlands, in Kimball, TN. The developer built its own fiber to the home (FTTH) network that delivers gigabit broadband to Jasper Highland's 2,000-foot mountaintop community. With help from partners North Alabama Electric Cooperative and Tennessee-based Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative, the privately-owned land developer created its own on-site service provider, Hi-Tech Data, to offer services.
- CLEC: Advanced Communications Technology, Inc. (ACT), a regional and local fiber-optic network provider in Sheridan, WY, has upgraded to a 10-Gbps fiber-optic network to stimulate economic development in its service area.
"The broadband carrier landscape is undoubtedly evolving. In a relatively short amount of time, ADTRAN has seen people refuse to be limited by their geographic location and go above and beyond to ensure their communities, from rural Tennessee to Alaska, have the same economic opportunities as their urban counterparts," said Mitch Fleming, vice president, service provider sales, ADTRAN. "Between advances in healthcare, education, land development, and telecommunications technology, more communities across the country now have the broadband infrastructure and resources available to thrive economically. While initially considered unconventional, these various types of carriers have quickly proven that they are becoming integral players in delivering the gigabit broadband that is transforming communities across the U.S."
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