FalmouthNet unveils design study for townwide fiber-optic network
FALMOUTH — A nonprofit organization is considering a townwide fiber-optic network plan that would require 378 miles of cable and the use of nearly 1,200 utility poles and cost at least $56 million.
FalmouthNet Inc., the group advocating for such a network, and New Hampshire-based Tilson Technology Management Inc. presented the results of a design study at the Falmouth Public Library on Thursday.
Approximately 20 people attended the presentation about the future of internet access in Falmouth and what the town could be like if such a network was constructed.
“It’s like drawing architectural designs for building a building,” said President of FalmouthNet Courtney Bird, explaining why a design study was necessary.
FalmouthNet advisory board member David Isenberg predicted that attendees would have two main questions: How much will a townwide fiber-optic network cost? And, how will it be paid for?
More: Falmouth moves forward with plans for a municipal internet utility; some advise caution
Tilson said estimated construction costs range from $56 to $59 million, depending on the type of fiber technology used. Funding would be decided by the Municipal Light Board scheduled to be elected in November. (The creation of a municipal light utility was approved at town meeting in April.)
However, FalmouthNet member Art Gaylord said he expects the funding will come from sources that include private donors, state and federal grants, subscriber fees and the town.
Isenberg said there's a difference between an investment and an expense, as well as a difference between a consumer and a citizen. A townwide fiber-optic network was an investment and an “exercise in citizenship.”
More: Is the Cape's internet inferior to big cities?
Tilson's’ study was presented by Chris Belt, supervisor of field consulting services, features a proposed fiber-optic network that would require 378 miles of fiber cable, 280 miles of which would be above ground, and 97 underground.
Three types of fiber-optic technologies were studied for the design: Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON), 10-gigabit passive optical network (XGSPON), and Active Ethernet (AE). Tilson recommended the XGSPON that would provide upload and download speeds of 10 gigabits per second split among 32 or 64 users.
The use of XGSPON would require one central office and four active cabinets spread through Falmouth.
Fiber cable would run from a central office cabinet to an active cabinet, and then to a passive cabinet on a utility pole where it would then be connected to homes or residences.
Additionally, utility poles would have to be worked on to support an additional fiber cable connection. The project would need to attach to about 11,877 poles, about 1,043 of which would need “make ready” work to support additional cable connections.
Tilson recommends using “ring technology,” meaning that active cabinets would receive two different routes of cable from the central office in case one link lost connection.
Contact Asad Jung at ajung@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @asadjungcct.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Townwide fiber-optic network design presented by FalmouthNet, Tilson
