The latest network operator with a gigabit network announcement is Paxio, which has launched gigabit residential service in Emeryville, Calif. based on fiber-to-the-home technology.
Paxio’s business model is to partner with municipalities, property owners and the like — sometimes overbuilding incumbent carrier networks. According to the Paxio website, the company is part of a public/private partnership known as EmeryConnect, which is “committed to delivering and maintaining a state-of-the-art fiber optic network for businesses and residential users in Emeryville.” Several other network operators — including Cogent, Hurrican Network, Level3 and Unwired — also are part of EmeryConnect.
Paxio did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Telecompetitor asking for more information. But according to the company’s website, the company’s Emeryville fiber network is open access, meaning that other network operators also can use it. The company also sells dark fibe and other services — including 10 Gbps connectivity for businesses based on fiber-to-the-premises.
The last month or so has seen numerous gigabit network announcements from companies that already had deployed fiber-to-the-home. Network operators seem to be recognizing that once that investment is made, the additional investment to upgrade to gigabit sevice undoubtedly is easier to cost-justify. Accordingly several of the recent gigabit announcements have been from companies that already had deployed FTTH — including Blue Valley Tele-Communications and Western Iowa Networks.
It isn’t clear from Paxio’s announcement if the company is doing a brand new FTTH deployment or upgrading an existing FTTH network. But in either case, the company’s initial deployment would have been relatively recent, increasing the likelihood that it could be easily upgraded to support gigabit service.
Emeryville Gigabit Network
It isn’t clear from Paxio’s announcement if the company is doing a brand new FTTH deployment or upgrading an existing FTTH network. But in either case, the company’s initial deployment would have been relatively recent, increasing the likelihood that it could be easily upgraded to support gigabit service.
Another trend in gigabit networks is to roll out service in areas where residents have indicated strong interest in obtaining service4 — and according to a Paxio blog post that appears to be from March of this year, the company used that approach.
“With referrals and web searches as the primary sources, Paxio now has over 1,000 Bay Area residents demanding Paxio industry leading residential broadband service,” the blog post says. “In the face of some of the incumbent monopoly providers, this number does not seem overly impressive. But, given these sign-ups were begun just over a year ago and they have not been advertised or promoted in any way it clearly demonstrates an increase in customers actively searching for companies that can deliver the better bandwidth and services.”
One of Paxio’s vendors is PacketFront Software, which is supplying a network management system that the companies said will give customers the ability to increase bandwidth on demand without involving any technicians. In an announcement released today, Paxio CEO Philip Clark said the system would help competitive business.”
Another gigabit network operator that has taken an open access approach is Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband.
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