Fidelity Rebuilding Networks with Fiber in Two Missouri Towns

SULLIVAN, MO — Fidelity Communications announced that two community cable TV systems recently it recently acquired will be completely rebuilt using fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology. The systems, located in Buffalo, Mo., near Springfield and Adrian, Mo., near Kansas City, were acquired from Provincial Cable in February. Fidelity plans to offer a full suite of high-speed Internet, digital TV and phone services in both towns by the end of the year.

FTTH is the only way to provide virtually unlimited bandwidth to consumers, enabling better quality video, Internet and voice services by running a fiber connection directly into the home. It replaces traditional copper and coax infrastructure. Large multiple system operators (MSOs) have been using FTTH to upgrade service in selected areas of major metropolitan areas for some time, but Fidelity Communications is one of only a handful of smaller telecoms to invest in a citywide FTTH network.

Buffalo has a population of 3,068 and Adrian has 1,634 residents. “Fiber to the Home is rare in towns this small,” said Don Knight, Fidelity Missouri general manager. “This will really put them on the map with major municipalities as far as broadband speed availability. It will be a differentiator in economic development for these towns.”

Removing Old Coax
Knight described the old Provincial Cable systems as “neglected and underserved” with a minimal TV lineup and Internet speeds ranging from 256 kbs to 3 Mbps. Fidelity will maintain those services for existing customers until the rebuild is complete. The old coax network will be removed as part of the project. The new fiber plant will allow speeds of 1 or more gigabits (1,000 megabits) per second. “With fiber, the sky’s the limit,” Knight said.

Rebuilding an entire town with fiber will be a first for Fidelity. “We’ve done some subdivisions, but not a full blown, citywide, FTTH network,” he said. “We’re excited to see this come to fruition.” Fidelity has the potential to serve 1,530 homes in Buffalo with about 28 miles of fiber, while in Adrian, 750 homes could be reached with about 15 miles of fiber, engineers estimate.