We’re working hard to become Ohio’s premier rural broadband provider, starting new networks serving members in the southwest and eastern parts of our service territory. We’ll provide high quality, highly reliable internet service with high speeds starting at 100 mpbs upload and download.
We are currently in the field taking the first steps we need to engineer and build our network. Our first members will be connected in spring 2024, and later that year, we expect a full commercial launch to hundreds of currently unserved and underserved consumers. We know if you’ve joined our broadband interest email list, you are anxious to receive service.
Unfortunately, the time it takes us to stand up the network and provide broadband to our first members in the rural areas in the far east and western corners of our service territory will be measured in months from now, not weeks or days.
Progress tracker
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- Field work and planning (in progress)
- Engineering and design (in progress)
- Construction
- Connecting
- Serving
How do we build a broadband network?
- Field work and planning – Before we can build – even before we can design our network – we need boots on the ground in the areas where we will be providing service. We need to anticipate any poles that need to be upgraded or replaced, complex terrain or engineering and construction challenges, and more. This process is already underway in some communities and will continue as we build the network out to new areas over the next few months and years.
- Engineering and design – Once we have a clearer understanding of the physical requirements and limitations we are working with the areas where we plan to build our network, we can start the engineering and design phase of the project. In this step, engineers and construction planners create detailed plans for construction based on the locations where we are building, and the consumers we need to be able to serve. Each broadband deployment provides a different set of challenges, so this phase allows us to be ready to tackle the unique circumstances we will face.
- Construction – Here’s where things start to get exciting, but we are still a ways out from being able to provide service. During construction, crews will hang fiber and the equipment needed to support it on our poles, and well as build the infrastructure we need to use the fiber for delivery of broadband to the home.
- Connecting – While connecting to your home is the final objective, first we need to connect our network to connection points with other broadband providers – ultimately allowing you access to the world wide web at ultra-fast speeds.
- Serving – Now for the good part: we’re ready to connect our first consumers! Unfortunately, the stages outlined above won’t happen everywhere all at once. We’ll continue the process in different geographic areas, hoping to eventually reach all of our members who need it, over a period of years.
When will you serve my area?
The first consumers we serve will be in the far east and far southwest portions of our service territory. Grant funding from BroadbandOhio will allow us to do an initial deployment to more than 20,000 households in parts of 14 counties, including portions of Adams, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Fayette, Harrison, Highland, Jefferson, Monroe, Noble, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties. Not all members in these counties will have access to our broadband offering in this initial deployment, but once we start building, we hope to reach everyone who needs it over time.
Fiber facts
How will life be better with fiber optics? In each upcoming issue of the Broadband Update, we’ll spotlight different ways that you will be able to use fiber internet to improve your quality of life.
Stream video on your security system
With broadband, you can add video to your South Central Power security system. While you can take advantage of our basic security system offering now, in the future with broadband you can adopt the latest security technology with video doorbells, indoor/outdoor security cameras, and wellness cameras for your loved ones. Plus, right now we’re offering new smart home systems with zero dollars down! See all the security system offerings on our website.
Share our news
Spread the word about South Central Power’s broadband project and encourage your friends and neighbors to receive broadband updates like this one. You can share this update on Facebook or Twitter. Also, if you are part of a local Facebook group in an underserved area, you can add a post about our Broadband Updates to help us spread the word and generate more interest in your area. Here’s a link to the broadband update page on our website.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned to your email for future Broadband Updates.