Vexus Fiber announced on Oct. 28 that it will be bringing its 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company said it will invest $250 million in the infrastructure of the network and create 200 jobs in the construction phase over the next three years.
Vexus added that it will be building a 10 gigabit network, "so that as devices get faster in the future, customers will have an internet option that can keep up." Broadband packages with symmetrical upload and download speeds up to one gigabit will be initially available to customers. The network will be available for both homes and businesses and will be 100% fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), "meaning fewer connectivity issues for customers," added a Vexus statement.
Vexus Fiber said it plans to begin engineering for the project immediately and start construction early next year. Completion of the network is expected by 2024, but the network will be activated in stages, so that some areas of the city will see service available beginning in 2022.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller commented, “In the past year, it has become clear that internet is not just a quality-of-life issue, but a fast, reliable connection for every family and business is necessary for learning and working too. High-speed fiber represents a major investment in our infrastructure, creating hundreds of jobs for Albuquerque and providing us with another key asset as we recruit more companies to our city. This investment in a ubiquitous fiber network is also necessary to make sure that no one is left behind in the quest for universal affordable access to high-speed broadband services (that is, to ‘bridge the digital divide’). We welcome Vexus along with other fiber developers who are interested in investing in ABQ and appreciate their confidence in this great City.”
In addition to the 200 construction jobs the project will create, the company plans to create 150 permanent jobs with the opening of a local office and storefront.
“We are excited to announce the expansion of fiber high-speed broadband into Albuquerque,” said Jim Gleason, CEO of Vexus Fiber. “We are thrilled to become a part of the City of Albuquerque and see the area as a terrific place for business. This network of the future will help foster additional growth and economic development for the area.”
Vexus has committed to building its fiber network throughout the entire city and says it will provide service to all corners of Albuquerque. To date, the company notes has installed successful high-speed fiber networks in over 35 cities in Texas and Louisiana.
“This is a real win for the residents of our city,” said Dan Serrano, CEO of the city's Westside Chamber of Commerce. “Vexus is bringing construction and permanent jobs with its expansion to Albuquerque as well as faster connectivity for residents.”
Vexus notes "the cost of the new service will be comparable to the other services provided in the city today, but with better performance." The first phase of the network could be available to Albuquerque residents by summer 2022, according to company representatives.
Learn more at www.connect.vexusfiber.com.