Combining video technology with fiber optics could provide video choices for local residents
HOULTON — Pioneer Broadband, a local telecommunication provider, is embarking on a study to determine the feasibility of providing video services in the Town of Houlton. Triple play services (the delivery of Internet, television and telephone) are readily available in metropolitan markets.
Since Pioneer Broadband currently owns and maintains a cable TV (CATV) facility in Sherman, it already owns the equipment and has agreements with broadcasters already in place, expansion into the Houlton market may now be feasible.
Pioneer started building fiber-optic services in Houlton two years ago and has several miles of fiber currently in place serving Houlton Internet customers. Pioneer secured pole attachment rights for the entire town from FairPoint and Houlton Water Company in 2012. Thus, they can add fiber-optic lines and expand into triple play services at any time.
Fiber-optic cabling has many advantages compared to the existing copper infrastructure. Fiber is not susceptible to electrical interference or moisture, thus making it incredibly reliable. Pioneer has been installing fiber-optic cable in the local area since 2010 and has expert fiber technicians who specialize in construction and emergency restoration.
The combination of CATV and fiber-optic technologies has long been a regular offering in metro areas, but due to the low housing density in Houlton, it has not been feasible to invest in this technology. However, Pioneer’s Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) system in Houlton allows for the injection of a 1-GHz signal for CATV onto a separate fiber wavelength — on the same fiber. This means that the amount of infrastructure change for Pioneer to be involved in video in Houlton would be minimized.
Pioneer customers have often expressed interest in video over the last few years. “Our installers bring that information back to the office, and now we believe it is time to see if it is feasible to increase our investment in Houlton’s media infrastructure in the near future,” said vice president of operations, Brian (BJ) Barton.
Pioneer Broadband is an industry-leading provider of communications services to communities across northern and eastern Maine. Pioneer operates facilities in 80 locations and delivers residential and business connectivity solutions.
Pioneer offers innovative and affordable broadband options, including DSL, cable and fiber connectivity solutions, all with local technical support and service staff.
Pioneer’s Datacenter in Presque Isle provides a secure co-location facility for web servers, data storage and disaster recovery purposes.
Pioneer is the only Internet service provider in Maine to have international connectivity to the Canadian Internet backbone, thus offering diversity and redundancy that is unique among Maine’s providers.
Broadband delivery to rural Maine continues to be a core business strategy for Pioneer Broadband, serving rural Maine since its inception in 2001.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Houlton, Pioneer Broadband is a privately owned, local Maine company. Learn more at www.PioneerBroadband.net.
