New Fiber Optic Internet Connection Being Installed For Schools

August 28, 2014

A new fiber optic cable is being installed in the Byrneville, Bratt and Walnut Hill areas. The fiber connection is being installed by a contractor for Southern Light Fiber based in Mobile.

According to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, the fiber connection will be used to provide improved high speed internet services for Northview High School, Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle School.

Pictured: A new fiber optic cable is installed outside Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “New Fiber Optic Internet Connection Being Installed For Schools”

  1. William on August 28th, 2014 8:55 am

    >Sometimes, the fiber service, such as Verizon’s FiOS, is cheaper by a long shot

    Verizon’s FIOS is marketed and offered at the consumer level with fiber to the home/business. To my knowledge, Southern Light only markets to higher end users. Per their website, they connect to 2,500 buildings, 1,300 cell towers, 187 schools and 158 telephone company offices/switches across the Gulf Coast. They mention nothing about the residential market.

  2. fred on August 28th, 2014 8:48 am

    William makes an interesting point regarding cost. I have offices all over the southeast, and internet service in all of them. Sometimes, the fiber service, such as Verizon’s FiOS, is cheaper by a long shot than AT&T’s ADSL service (In Sarasota, it was $40 per month, instead of $200 for AT&T, and the data pipe was much faster). So, you may or may not pay more. The best thing to do is shop service and pricing and see where your best value is. Around here, fiber might be far more expensive – and, you may not have fiber all the way to your house – it might be connected to copper wire once it gets into your neighborhood. It’s best to do your homework and figure out what’s best for you.

  3. Walnut Hill Roy on August 28th, 2014 8:38 am

    I for another would like to have fiber optic cable service instead of Frontier based service, will it be available to the public at all? I live less than a mile from Ernest Ward middle school.

  4. William on August 28th, 2014 8:35 am

    >Where is Frontier in all of this?? Why is Frontier not mentioned?

    Frontier has nothing to do with this fiber optic line..that’s why they are not mentioned. Southern Light is a totally different company. Southern Light is, I”m sure, willing to make sure anyone along their fiber route has dependable service as long as they are willing to pay for it. (But it’s going to cost you much more than consumer level DSL, cable internet, etc). Like any company, they are in the business of making money.

  5. Atmore G on August 28th, 2014 8:20 am

    Where is Frontier in all of this?? Why is Frontier not mentioned? Is Southern Light planning to make certain only the schools, hospitals, banks, law enforcement, etc. have dependable service?