Mount Ayr continues fiber optic push
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Jeff Snyder
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — Mount Ayr continues to move toward modernization of its infrastructures by expanding its digital footprint, specifically the expansion of fiber optic data transmission capability.
Over the past few years Mount Ayr has seen a dramatic increase in the number of homes serviced by the high tech advantage of fiber optic data transmission. Fiber optics are a method by which data and signals are transmitted through a glass or plastic fiber optical cable enabling light to transmit signals rather than the traditional copper wire method commonly used in the past.
The advantages of fiber optics are considerable. Light transmitted data travels at approximately two-thirds the speed of light itself. Additionally, data transmitted via a fiber optic network looses almost no speed as the signal travels over long distances unlike the traditional copper line transmissions. Fiber optics can send signals up to 62 miles without appreciable signal degradation, which is critical in rural areas.
In practical terms the system allows super high speed information transfers from the source to the home — (FTTH) fiber to the home. Speeds for uploading and downloading are virtually identical. This reduces lag in data transfers and reduced buffering in real time. Translation … you can watch movies and play games on your computer without interruption or experiencing lag (buffering).
An additional added benefit to this hardware is the minimal maintenance required for these systems once set up and operational. They are not effected by temperature fluctuations and turbulent weather as often hampers systems such as satellites.
Fiber optic cables are being installed throughout the area expanding to the west of Mount Ayr. A number of areas are already privy to fiber optics specifically the east side of town. A number of the government offices are also already connected to the fiber optic systems and have reported good results since installation have taken place.
“One of the big advantages of fiber is it allows cloud computing.” said Mike Wik a representative of Kenetic Windstream, one of the primary providers of fiber optic transmissions in Mount Ayr.
As more and more emphasis is placed on technologies such as advanced AI, the more important it will be for the communities throughout southwest Iowa to adopt advanced infrastructure to take advantage of this emerging technological advancements.
Fiber optics still require manual installations but promise better results and lower outage rates that are commonplace in conventional wired systems.
