[1st-mile-nm] Muni fiber networks bounce back

[Carroll Cagle]

Muni fiber networks bounce back


Aug 25, 2008

 

By Carol Wilson

Telephony Online 

Despite some high-profile failures, the deep-seated need for broadband keeps
municipalities on the fiber-to-the-home-track.

The headlines surrounding municipally funded telecom networks have been
dominated by bad news this year. 

In addition to the outright collapse of muni Wi-Fi networks, there have been
notable failures in the muni fiber market as well, namely the iProvo
network, sold to Broadweave earlier this year, and Utopia, a network linking
multiple municipalities that has struggled to sign up customers. A multicity
fiber network in northeastern Minnesota that had been under study for years
also was scrapped recently. 

Anyone who thinks the municipal broadband market is headed south, however,
needs to take a closer look. For every visible failure, there are multiple
other cities, towns and villages either building or looking to build their
own fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, for the simple reason that they want
broadband facilities they can't convince their local telco and cable
incumbents to build. 

 

 

 

http://telephonyonline.com/issue_20080901/

 

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