Conexon, which specializes in rural fiber network design and construction management, says it will assist New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) in expanding its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.
The project will see the Plymouth, NH -based co-op enable FTTH based gigabit broadband services to nine counties and nearly 120 communities.
New Hampshire Electric already began work on the FTTH network in the towns of Acworth and Sandwich, NH, and will provide services via its NH Broadband subsidiary.
Conexon will provide network design, construction project management, engineering, and operations support for the electric co-op’s broadband footprint expansion, which is expected to take three years.
The first Acworth/Sandwich members will be connected to the FTTH infrastructure in the first quarter of this year.
Fiber to the smart grid
In addition to supporting broadband service delivery, the fiber network build also is expected to enhance the co-op’s smart grid and related capabilities, which should result in improved power outage response times, better load balancing, and more efficient electricity delivery among other benefits.
"While the task at hand is big, the payoff will be transformative," said Leo Dwyer, executive chair of NH Broadband. "A wide swath of rural New Hampshire will get connected to priceless economic, educational and lifestyle opportunities now beyond their reach, while allowing NHEC to implement state-of-the-art smart grid solutions for distributed generation, storage, electric vehicle charging, and load management."
"We're very excited to work with the New Hampshire Electric management team and board to serve their members with fiber broadband," Conexon Founding Partner Randy Klindt said. "New Hampshire is in desperate need of world-class broadband and this project will go a long way in closing the digital divide within the state. It's going to be life-changing."