Broadband services provider Lumos says it has received franchise approvals from Hampton Road cities Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The company says it plans to deploy nearly 900 miles of fiber cable in the region. The network will support 100G wavelength transmission to help deliver broadband to more than 85,000 residents and small businesses in the area, Lumos asserts.
The company expects to spend $83 million on the fiber deployment, for which engineering work has already begun. Actual construction will start in 2023, Lumos expects. Most of the project will complete in approximately two years, including in the Chesapeake and Portsmouth areas.
Lumos will use the infrastructure to offer multiple speeds of broadband, topping off at symmetrical 2 Gbps. The company also recently unveiled a no-cost 100x100 Mbps plan for subscribers who qualify for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program.
“We are thrilled to bring new fiber infrastructure to the Hampton Roads,” said Lumos CEO Brian Stading. “The infrastructure of yesterday can’t unlock the possibilities of tomorrow, and Lumos is building for the next 50 years, not the last 50. This expansion highlights our commitment to bringing competitive choice and the best technology available to these communities, creating a connection to the future.”
“Broadband is no longer a luxury item; it’s an essential need for everyday living,” added Shannon E. Glover, mayor of the city of Portsmouth. “During the last two years, we have learned just how essential this kind of connectivity is and will continue to be for the future. High-speed internet is vital for improving educational success for children, for public health and for public safety, to grow small businesses, and for our residents who may need to work remotely. Improving access to high-speed internet to all areas of the city is a top priority for the Portsmouth City Council.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.