COLUMBIA, Miss. (WDAM) - Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association is launching a fiber-to-the-home network to serve all of its 51,000 members in its service territory.
The Internet service will provide broadband speed and capabilities, as well as phone service.
PRVEPA’s 5-year deployment will cover 4,700 miles of fiber and all 12 counties served by the co-op. Fiber construction is expected to start in summer 2021, with the first members connected by the third quarter of 2021.
The broadband network will give symmetrical gigabit internet capabilities along with voice services that will be offered through PearlComm, a subsidiary of PRVEPA.
“For decades, the mission of our cooperative has been to make lives and communities better through taking care of our members with high-quality, affordable services,” Matthew Ware, general manager said. “Today the Board and staff of Pearl River Valley EPA are re-committing to that, by delivering world-class high-speed internet and voice services and bringing the economic, educational and growth benefits of broadband to our communities.”
PearlComm will also support the co-op’s electrical framework with smart grid capabilities that will bring benefits such as improved power outrage response times, better load balancing and more efficient electricity delivery.
PRVEPA is partnering with rural fiber-optic network design and construction management company Conexon to design, launch and build the broadband network.
Conexon works exclusively with electric cooperatives to install fiber to the home throughout rural America and has assisted more than 160 cooperatives in evaluating, building or operating broadband networks.