Pahrump, Nevada-based Valley Electric Association on Mar. 17 announced that it has selected rural fiber-optic network design and construction management specialist, Conexon, to deliver comprehensive fiber broadband support services for the cooperative's fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network project.
Members will receive service from the co-op's broadband entity, Valley Communications Association.
Conexon will provide network design, construction project management, engineering, and operations support, enabling Valley Communications to deliver high-speed internet to homes and businesses across Pahrump and the communities of Southern Nye, Esmeralda, and Clark County within Valley Electric's service territory.
The partners said the project's goal is to ultimately expand fiber broadband access to all of Valley Electric's members, offering fiber to those who do not have access today, and eventually replacing the wireless internet service some members currently receive.
Since 2016, Valley Communications and Valley Electric have leveraged a combination of transmission media, including wireless and fiber optics to offer broadband to members.
The co-op's leadership team and board said they made the decision to invest in a FTTH network for all members because it is considered the gold standard of broadband transmission – reliable, "future-proof" and resilient.
According to a press release, the network will be built over Valley Electric's existing electric distribution infrastructure using an architecture that enables super-fast and affordable internet services for members. The network will ultimately be available for all members.
Those using other broadband means will be transitioned to the FTTH network as construction reaches their area. Construction began in early 2023, with the initial customer connections anticipated to be in fall 2023. The overall project, spanning 4,300 miles of Valley Electric lines, is anticipated to be complete within three years.
The Valley Communications Association fiber-optic network will give members access to symmetrical gigabit internet capabilities. Additionally, it will enable enhancements and smart grid capabilities to Valley Electric's infrastructure, including improved power outage response times, better load balancing, more efficient electricity delivery, and more.
Conexon founding partner, Randy Klindt, commented:
"We're excited to continue partnering with Valley Electric and deliver on our mission to bring world-class, high-speed internet to unserved and underserved residents. The completion of this project will provide rural Nevada residents with internet capabilities and reliability that rival those in urban areas."
Conexon says it brings to the project the firm's unmatched experience and expertise in deploying rural FTTH networks. The company notes it has designed more than 200,000 miles of fiber for cooperative projects and builds more than 50,000 miles of fiber annually.
Additionally, in working with rural electric cooperatives, Conexon notes it "has created a broad and unmatched ecosystem of equipment and labor resources specializing in rural fiber builds to ensure clients expertise and efficiency for their projects."
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