States continue fiber optics deployments for significant gains

Statewide investments into fiber optics for high-speed internet, smart grid support and other uses are continuing to grow as more communities embrace the advantages of FTTH. This led to a boom in fiber-optic technologies in certain areas of the nation, as well as overall growth in communities, local economies and other factors affecting everyday life within these states. For New Hampshire and Mississippi, fiber optics is only the beginning though.

According to The Vicksburg Post, a new fiber-optic broadband solution is expected to be approved and deployed in the near future.

"We really are on the cutting edge of some of the technological advances in Mississippi," David Miller, senior media relations manager for C-Spire, told the news source.

Improving fiber-optic Internet access across the state will help community economies, improve education and drive opportunities for small businesses as well.

In New Hampshire, the recently completed Network New Hampshire Now project added 865 miles of fiber-optic cabling throughout all 10 counties of the state. This infrastructure is already demonstrating the many benefits of advancing FTTH opportunities.

"I'm extremely pleased with the result achieved, doing more with what we were given and the impact already being seen in the state," said Scott Valcourt, project leader, according to The New Hampshire. "In a short window of time we've already seen new uses and deployment taking place. Estimates are that to connect all of rural America is [in the] $300-400 billion range, so because the federal agency knew the amount available wouldn't connect everyone, they took a strategic approach to connect with the middle mile."

Valcourt, commenting on the 2009 federal allocation of $4.7 billion toward expanding broadband in rural America, was referring to the "middle mile" strategy of laying down fiber cabling much like the nation's interstate highway infrastructure was designed.

With advanced fiber optics investments becoming more commonplace, states have to consider the supporting hardware that makes their infrastructure truly work. Thefiber to copper media converters and related solutions will help connect more people to the network and ensure high-quality, fast Internet connections for all.

Perle has an extensive range of Managed and Unmanaged Fiber Media Converters to extended copper-based Ethernet equipment over a fiber optic link, multimode to multimode and multimode to single mode fiber up to 160km.