The City of East Chicago has completed construction of an advanced technology 17-mile High Speed Fiber Optic Broadband network and reached an agreement with Northwestern Indiana Telephone Co. (NITCO) to maintain the network. While other communities in the region are considering and some even building fiber broadband networks, the City of East Chicago’s fiber network (ECFON) is the first to be active and providing valuable service to the citizens.
Mayor Anthony Copeland’s vision to improve the speed and efficiency of East Chicago’s communications network has been accomplished. In late July, 2017 East Chicago completed a 72 strand single mode fiber optic loop, which includes the business areas of Chicago Avenue, Indianapolis Boulevard and Columbus Drive. With completion of the network infrastructure the city struck an agreement with NITCO to maintain the network and provide services to business and residential customers, another first for the City of East Chicago.
“I am so proud we have completed this project. East Chicago is wired for the future and we are open for business. The possibilities are unlimited, and we are looking forward to a return on our investment. Through this agreement I am confident our city will prosper, and our residents will enjoy its benefits” stated Mayor Anthony Copeland.
The City of East Chicago is the first known municipality in Nor-thwest Indiana that has completed construction of a high-speed fiber network and is making it available for services to residents and local businesses. The city is currently utilizing the fiber for communications throughout the city at a much more efficient speed, but more importantly, minimizing the costs of the associated communications for these applications.
Some examples of these applications are as follows; data transport between city facilities, a centralized VOIP phone system between facilities, the networking of nearly 700 high resolution cameras communication on a high speed fiber network, automated SCADA communications within our utilities facilities, and wifi hotspots being installed throughout the city for public wifi access.
The city is also letting the public know that there is fiber available as a managed fiber solution which can provide the business districts with high speed communications through an alternative resources network provided by NITCO.
These are just a few examples of how the Mayors’ commitment to investing into the future of East Chicago will improve communications and technology within the city, allowing East Chicago to continue along the path of being a City of Hope & Progress.
For more information about this story call the IT Department at 219-391-8386.
