MaxxSouth Broadband Launches Fiber-To-The-Home 1 Gig Internet Service In Oxford

Oxford, MS /PRNewswire/ - MaxxSouth Broadband announced over the weekend the deployment of an advanced fiber-to-the-home 1 Gigabit Internet service for its customers in Oxford, Mississippi.

Government officials and community leaders, including U.S Senator Roger Wicker, State Representative Jim Beckett and Lafayette County Board Supervisor Kevin Frye, joined MaxxSouth Broadband's corporate officers to speak on the impact of these services in the Oxfordcommunity at a press event Thursday afternoon.

"We think this is going to mean a better quality of life and also a better way to create jobs," said U.S. Senator Roger Wicker. "Not only for the big companies, which we all love, but the small startups. They need this type of fiber and today we're announcing a great opportunity…we're glad to be part of this, we want to be part of the team going forward."

Oxford marks the third city in Mississippi where MaxxSouth operates as an optic-fiber network. In 2015, fiber-to-the-home was launched in Starkville, Mississippi; in 2014, an optic-fiber network was launched in Carthage, Mississippi—a first for Leake County.

"As I campaigned last year, one of the things that repeatedly came up was Internet," Frye said. "What we know and what we all recognize—and what everybody has spoken about today—is the significant positive impact that can come from economic development and education having access to this high-speed Internet."

Fiber optics uses state-of-the-art light signals over thin waves of glass to transmit data all the way to a home or business. It replaces outdated copper infrastructure like telephone wires and coaxial cables for a more robust connection.

"A fiber-to-the-home connection will allow for speeds in the Oxford area that are 20 times faster than the average speed of connection in the United States," explained MaxxSouth Broadband Regional Manager Rick Ferrall.

Ferrall explained that common 20 Megabit speeds would take 32 minutes to download a two-hour HD movie, but with 1 Gigabit speeds, the same download would take about 25 seconds.

"Research shows us that communities with fiber connections experience economic revitalization," said President and CEO of MaxxSouth Broadband Peter Kahelin. "A fiber network in a city can stimulate business activity and improve quality of life. And we get excited about news like this because we are a local company; we are committed to this community."

The initial phase of the project will service approximately 3,000 homes; expected completion is early 2017. Over the next few years, MaxxSouth plans to build out fiber-to-the-home service areas throughout Lafayette County completely.

About MaxxSouth Broadband:
MaxxSouth Broadband's service area for video, high-speed Internet and digital phone stretches more than 200 miles and includes 20 counties and 60 communities in northern Mississippi and Alabama. The company currently has approximately 83,000 subscribers for broadband services and passes 110,000 homes. Operating as a subsidiary of the reputable and diversified media holding company Block Communications Inc., MaxxSouth Broadband continues to expand and enhance its state-of-the-art broadband network in the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.MaxxSouth.com.