Partnership with Washington EMC delivers multi-gigabit-speed
internet access to more than 12,000 homes and businesses across
co-op's rural 10-county service territory
KANSAS
CITY, Mo., Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Conexon
Connect, the internet service provider (ISP) formed by rural
fiber broadband leader Conexon, has completed its third
electric cooperative fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, also marking
its third broadband project completion in the state of Georgia.
The 2,500-mile, multi-gigabit network, built in partnership with
Sandersville-based Washington EMC,
was announced in April 2021 and
completed in July 2024.
The completion of Conexon Connect's third project continues the
ISP's growth trajectory as one of the nation's premier rural
providers and furthers its footprint and ability to serve rural
Americans with world-class internet. The first Conexon Connect
project, a 2,100-mile FTTH network launched in partnership with
Georgia-based Southern Rivers
Energy, was completed in fall 2023 while a project built in
partnership with Middle Georgia EMC finished earlier this year. All
projects have been completed anywhere from six months to a year
ahead of schedule.
"In the last three years, the EMCs in Georgia have built a tremendous amount of
fiber. We are serving areas that have never had service before,"
Washington EMC CEO Wendy Sellers
said. "Everyone is realizing now that co-ops can get this done. If
you give us space and let us go to work, we can build these fiber
networks. That's what we do. We build infrastructure to serve our
members. It's amazing how much we've all accomplished
together."
The $54.5 million Connect, powered
by Washington EMC, network now reaches 100 percent of the EMC's
12,200 members across 10 counties in rural Georgia. The fiber-optic network provides
members access to multi-gigabit-speed symmetrical internet
capabilities, offering the same fast download and upload speeds,
reliable phone service, and delivering the benefits of smart grid
capabilities to the co-op's electrical infrastructure.
"Over the past year, we have announced the completion of three
EMC fiber broadband projects in Georgia. Completion to us means that every
member of an EMC has access to world-class internet service," said
Conexon co-CEO Jonathan Chambers.
"Across the country, the tally of completed electric cooperative
fiber networks has reached two dozen and twenty more will be
completed this year. The numbers may suggest that building
2,500-mile fiber networks in rural America is routine. There is
nothing routine about the work that was done by Washington EMC. The
work was extraordinary.
"The leadership shown by Wendy
Sellers and her board of directors was in keeping with a
proud tradition among rural electric cooperatives: Service to
others. Help to those who most need it. Perseverance. Washington
EMC is an example to us all."
Washington EMC was the fourth partnership project announced by
Conexon Connect. Since that time, the ISP has rapidly expanded and
today has 20 FTTH projects across seven states, set to reach nearly
400,000 rural homes and businesses upon completion of those
projects.
"It was a privilege for us three years ago to stand with Wendy,
the Washington EMC Board, members of the community and the co-op as
we announced our plans to bring fiber internet to an area that was
tremendously underserved," Conexon Founding Partner and co-CEO
Randy Klindt said. "Today we're
proud to have accomplished what we committed to do and are excited
about the future of Washington EMC's communities as they thrive and
realize the benefits world-class broadband can bring."
About Conexon
Conexon is an industry-leading broadband
network design, construction and operations firm working with
electric cooperatives, communities and other entities to deploy
fiber to the home across rural America. Since its inception a
decade ago, Conexon has collaborated with electric cooperatives
across 80 markets to launch and deploy fiber-to-the-home networks
in their territories, with more than 20 projects now reaching 100
percent of members. The company's internet service provider,
Connect, today delivers multi-gigabit speed internet across many of
those markets. Through Conexon's work with its partners, nearly 3
million rural Americans now have access to fiber to the home, with
more than 1.1 million connected. The company has designed more than
200,000 miles of fiber, and builds more than 50,000 miles annually.
With more than $2 billion in federal,
state, and local grants and subsidies for FTTH projects, Conexon
and its partners have collectively secured more federal broadband
funding for fiber construction than any other group in the
country.
About Conexon Connect
Conexon Connect, the
fiber-to-the-home internet service provider (ISP) formed and
operated by Conexon, is an emerging local broadband leader in rural
communities across the country. Connect works predominantly with
electric cooperatives and communities, building networks using
Conexon's proven methodology and architecture that leverage
existing infrastructure to power reliable and affordable 100
percent fiber broadband service for rural homes and businesses.
Connect currently operates in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri.
Cindy Parks
913-526-6912
cindy.parks@conexon.us
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SOURCE Conexon Connect