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THE
INCOMPAS SHOW
I
APRIL 3 - 5, 2017
www.bekabusinessmedia.comDAY
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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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