C Spire is expanding its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) footprint in Mississippi to the Highlands, a residential subdivision in Jones County just outside Ellisville. The deployment is intended to support gigabit Internet access, live streaming TV and digital home phone service.
C Spire began taking FTTH service orders earlier this month from homeowners in the first phase of the 300-lot Highlands development. Placement of fiber-optic cable infrastructure is scheduled to begin in mid-October with service for the first customers expected by December.
"We're excited about partnering with C Spire and becoming the first development in south Mississippi to bring this revolutionary technology to homeowners and families," said Steve Jennings, CFO for Tillery Properties, a Laurel-based company overseeing the new home construction. "DSL isn't even offered in our area any longer after a resident disconnects, so this super-fast Internet is going to help dramatically change that situation."
Ross Tucker, president and CEO of the Jones County Economic Development Authority, said he expects the fiber-optic infrastructure to boost home values and potentially lure new high-tech business investment to the county. "It's happened in other areas, and there's no reason to believe it won't happen here, especially if C Spire continues to deploy additional fiber in our region."
In addition to 1 Gbps Internet, C Spire is offering Highlands residents digital home phone service and an app-based live streaming TV service. The company introduced the streaming service last July.
"Fiber to the Home is a revolutionary technology that promises to boost home values, broaden entertainment opportunities, help expand the local economy and improve the quality of life for everyone," said Ashley Phillips, general manager of the C Spire Home Services subsidiary that manages the company's FTTH program.
C Spire has rolled out gigabit Internet access and related services in about a dozen Mississippi markets since 2014.
