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THE

INCOMPAS SHOW

I

APRIL 3 - 5, 2017

www.bekabusinessmedia.com

DAY

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X2 Technology is partnering with unique

rural communities to build new or

upgrade existing community-owned fiber

optic networks. And, by opening their networks

to service providers to deliver services to their

community, this cities have taken a significant

step forward in providing their citizens with the

same economic advancement opportunities as

those in larger metropolitan districts.

Ammon, Idaho

Ammon, an eastern Idaho community

located a few miles outside of Idaho Falls,

has just under 15,000 residents. Concerned

with the negative economic impacts that

slower, more expensive internet services had

on its economy, the city pledged to build a

city-owned and -operated open-access fiber-

to-the-home (FTTH) network. Designed to

increase service provider competition, resi-

dents and businesses enjoy a significantly

greater choice in broadband service providers

and service options.

The Active Ethernet FTTH network utilizes

software defined network (SDN) technology to

deliver vastly higher bandwidth and enables

subscribers to switch between multiple providers

almost instantly through a cloud environment

using a specially designed portal.

After being denied federal government

funding assistance, Ammon creatively developed

and utilized Local Improvement Districts – one of

the first cities to use such a model – to fund the

infrastructure. In doing so, residents were given

the opportunity to opt in, voluntarily choosing

to share network build costs equally among

other participants. Ammon’s plan has proven

cost-effective, spurring economic growth and

increasing property values. Its network has since

become a national next-generation, true open-

access network model and was named the “2016

Community Broadband Project of the Year” by

the National Association of Telecommunications

Officers and Advisors (NATOA).

Providing requirements specification,

procurement support and design assistance for

all of Ammon’s pre-construction preparation and

engineering activities, eX2 is working closely

with the Ammon Fiber Optic Department. eX2

network specialists are also providing consulting

advice for the best locations to place fiber cables

throughout neighborhoods that will ultimately

bring fiber to Ammon homes.

Batavia, Illinois

Batavia is the oldest city in Kane County,

with 27,000 residents. Founded in 1833,

Batavia, “the Windmill City,” is rich in history, yet

values the importance of growth and prosperity

within its community. Driven by its commitment

to enhance its citizens’ quality of life with reli-

able and efficient municipal services, the city

is undergoing a fiber-optic network expansion

in combination with various other improvement

efforts to its water and sewer systems.

Upon completion, Batavia will own a more

robust and reliable fiber-optic network that will

be used to support a host of smart city applica-

tions. It has attracted additional businesses to

the area and, ultimately, will provide economic

growth opportunities for area residents.

The network will serve as the plat-

form to advance city services, as well as

enhance public safety and educational

programs. Anticipated improvements include

connecting wastewater lift stations to the

network, expanding network functionality

and completing connectivity to substations.

In combining these initiatives, Batavia is not

only saving time and money on construction,

but strategically advancing its community’s

long-term sustainability.

Through a professional services agree-

ment, eX2 is partnering with Batavia, providing

design, engineering, project/construction

management, fiber splicing and testing, and

other consultative services during its municipal

infrastructure expansion project.

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TeleQuality Communications Expands

into Fiber Market, Pushes for Fiber

Deployment in Rural America

eX2 Advances Smarter, More Connected

Rural Communities in Idaho and Illinois

T

eleQuality Communications has

expanded into the fiber marketplace,

with a focus on bringing access to

rural healthcare providers and communities

across the country.

“Our overarching goal is to deliver robust

broadband infrastructure to rural communities

that will ensure direct access to 21st century

emerging healthcare technologies, such as

telehealth, that save time, money and lives,”

said TeleQuality Founder and CEO Tim Koxlien.

“Telemedicine and healthcare technologies directly

depend on quality, high-speed broadband

connections. Our fiber offerings, combined with

our high-touch customer service, will assist in

bringing the fastest broadband speeds possible

to rural healthcare to increase the quality of

the care they deliver to the communities

they serve.”

TeleQuality has already completed fiber proj-

ects in West Virginia and Texas.

The company serves more than 800 rural

healthcare locations, and a significant number

of those locations do not have access to broad-

band via fiber. These, and thousands of other

rural communities, are the foundation of infra-

structure projects in the coming years.

“Often, larger telecom companies choose

to forgo investment in fiber buildouts to

remote, rural areas, but these residents are

the ones with the greatest need for those

services,” Koxlien said. “With a bit of patience

and a lot of creativity, we can build to these

communities and bring the broadband

services they need.”

The strategic move into fiber expansion

also led TeleQuality to hire telecom industry

veteran Steven Dorf as COO. Dorf previously

served as president and general manager

for Kansas Fiber Network, and brings

nearly 30 years of experience in the telecom

and networking industry to this position.

He will head all fiber investment and

expansion projects, as well as all aspects

of TeleQuality operations including

engineering, quality, procurement and

customer satisfaction nationwide.

“We are thrilled to have such a talented and

successful veteran in the telecom industry to

lead us in our vision of expanding fiber into

rural America,” said Koxlien. “Dorf’s breadth of

knowledge and expertise in all stages of fiber

deployment makes him a tremendous asset to

the TeleQuality team.”

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