Albuquerque to be Connected Through Fiber-Optic Internet
The City of Albuquerque has finalized its license agreement with Vexus Fiber, a Texas-based Internet company, to begin construction on a 100 percent fiber-optic network that will be available everywhere in the city with direct, cutting-edge internet access to all homes and businesses.
“The Keller Administration and the Department of Technology and Innovation have deployed a holistic approach to the broadband needs of our city by leveraging private investment to ensure everyone can get superior internet access - whether it’s a family that doesn’t have internet, or a business that needs faster download and upload speeds,” stated Brian Osterloh, director of the Department of Technology and Innovation. “We recognize that quality internet service is a necessity for our community, and we are committed to collaborating on many efforts to achieve our broadband goals.”
With better performing, future-proof technology, the fiber network will support Albuquerque’s residents and businesses needs now and into the future at prices similar to and even lower than what other internet service providers currently charge. Fiber internet gives users greater bandwidth to carry more information at higher speeds with equal download and upload speeds of 150 Mbps, 400 Mbps, and 1Gig.
Vexus Fiber participates in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), so customers are eligible for a $30 per month subsidy on internet service if the household makes less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level or an individual participates in certain government assistance programs. Albuquerque lags nationally in internet-connected households and currently only about 10% of households in the Metro participate in ACP.
“We’re ready to get started,” said Vexus CEO Jim Gleason. “Our goal is to provide high-speed fiber to the home and business broadband service to the whole city. We anticipate starting construction in the first neighborhoods this September. We’d like to say thank you to the City of Albuquerque, the Mayor, and the many dedicated public servants who worked hard to get this done. We’d like to also thank ABQ Westside Chamber of Commerce and the chairman, Dan Serrano, for their work encouraging the parties to come together and make an agreement to better the broadband access for the entire city.”
Vexus Fiber has started hiring for the construction phase and started the engineering process with projections to hire 200 people in this first phase. The project is estimated to bring $250 million in much needed broadband infrastructure investment to our city while creating about 300 local construction jobs and 150 local, permanent jobs.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the economic impact that Vexus Fiber will bring to our city, not only from construction, but also for the industries that benefit from fiber and technology startups,” stated Charles Ashely III, director of Economic Development. “We know that by investing in broadband now, we will have a positive impact on the lives of future generations of New Mexicans.”
Vexus plans to start construction north of downtown in September and residents can start service 90 to 120 days from the start date. Future construction will occur throughout the city. Albuquerque is the largest city served by Vexus Fiber and a buildout of this magnitude takes approximately three years to complete.