SiFi Networks and Pacific Grove Seal Fiber to the Home Deal
SiFi Networks has signed a landmark deal with the coastal city of Pacific Grove, California to bring high-speed broadband to the community. Residents and businesses are now being encouraged to go online and register their interest in receiving super-fast internet at www.sifinetworks.com/cities/pacific-grove-ca
Pacific Grove is a small city located in Monterey County, California with a population of over 15,000. Famed for its historic appeal and butterfly sanctuaries, hence the title as Butterfly Town USA. Now however, progressive city officials have decided to take Pacific Grove into the 21st century, and signed a deal with SiFi Networks to bring high-speed internet connectivity to residents and businesses in the region.
“The creation of this new fiber to the home infrastructure will allow Pacific Grove to attract creative class, high information users and financial services companies that previously had been unlikely to locate in PG. This system will also provide our residents and visitors with best in the world access to phone, video and internet services. We are excited that SiFi Networks has chosen Pacific Grove as their preferred place to build one of their first two systems in California,” says Kurt Overmeyer, Economic Development Director for the City of Pacific Grove.
This deal would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of key members within Pacific Grove’s council departments. The hard work has now paid off as SiFi Networks takes the next steps to making Pacific Grove a FiberCity™ . SiFi Networks intends to install their FOCUS™ solution, deploying FTTH infrastructure throughout the entire city, including the use of SiFi Networks patented Wastewater Fiber Technology (WFT).
WFT provides a compelling alternative to conventional core fiber installation techniques by providing a means of running fiber cables through sanitary and storm wastewater networks. The benefits WFT provides can reduce costs, shorten deployment times and minimize disruption for citizens in the community.
SiFi Networks proposes to fund and build a gigabit ready network throughout the city. Once complete the infrastructure will be leased to Service Providers, bringing speeds of up to 20 times faster internet than is currently available in the city.
Scott Bradshaw, President SiFi Networks America quoted “A FiberCity™ provides future proofed communications infrastructure which shall last generations, providing a vital platform for economic growth drawing new entrepreneurs to the community and securing existing businesses.” Mr Bradshaw continued to say that “it isn’t just businesses that benefit, residential consumers will open up countless new capabilities, HD TV, video calls, eHealth, remote home security, improved gaming to name just a few.”
SiFi Networks has a wealth of experience within the company, from telecommunications to construction, enabling them to create innovative solutions for the deployment of FTTH. This contract with Pacific Grove is sure to be a catalyst as other cities realise the benefits of becoming a FiberCity™ SiFi Networks FTTH. Work will now begin to design the network and engage with service providers interested in serving Pacific Grove.
Ben Bawtree-Jobson, CEO of SiFi Networks commented “We are delighted to agree terms with Pacific Grove, it was their proactive engagement to our offer that has secured our interest and importantly investment. What we are most excited about is being able to use our full offering, of FOCUS™ system and FiberCity™ structure, which we are in the process of scaling to multiple large scale projects in the USA and Europe”
For further details and information on FOCUS™ Technology, please see the SiFi Networks website or to register your interest in receiving service in Pacific Grove, please visit www.sifinetworks.com/cities/pacific-grove-ca
The New Saints Raise Cup for 8th Time
SiFi Networks is proud to report this morning that The New Saints Football Club drew with Airbus Broughton UK on Saturday, securing the one point needed to clinch a record breaking eighth Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League title.
The New Saints scored a first half goal and controlled the majority of possession in the second half, nearly doubling their advantage midway through. However a late penalty goal for Airbus Broughton UK was secured resulting in a 1-1 draw.
There were huge celebrations as the whistle blew for full time, the one point gained by the draw gave The New Saints the point they needed to raise the Welsh Premier League cup for the eighth time. Attentions now turn to achieving a domestic double as they prepare for a Welsh Cup final against Aberystwyth Town FC on May 3.
The title triumph also means TNS will once again represent Wales in the Champions League next season.
SiFi Networks proudly sponsors The New Saints FC based in Oswestry, Shropshire and would like to offer a huge congratulation on their win.
The New Saints Bid for Record Title
Tomorrow, The New Saints Football Club will come head to head with local rivals Airbus UK Broughton in a bid to clench just one point to be crowned champions of the Welsh Premier League for a record eighth time.
The New Saints FC hold a strong position for tomorrow’s game with better results this season than their rivals. The New Saints FC has won 3 more games than Airbus UK Broughton, and has only lost 2 games this season as opposed to the oppositions 5 game defeat.
SiFi Networks proudly sponsors The New Saints FC based in Oswestry, Shropshire and are backing them all of the way to become champions yet again. Playing on their own turf will certainly bring out the best in the team with local support pushing them on to raise the cup yet again.
The Pickstock Group Presents alongside Louis Vuitton in Milan
The Pickstock Group has been invited as special guests to Politecnico Di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) to speak at the University’s Careers Abroad Event run for students from the Schools of Architecture and Design.
The event has been arranged for international companies with a strategic focus on making their brand visible at Politecnico di Milano and would like to offer career opportunities for graduates outside of Italy, which presents a rare opportunity for The Pickstock Group.
The University is the largest technical university in Italy, with 37,000 students. Established in 1863, it is the oldest university in Milan. 15,000 prospective students sit the entrance exam each year, however only 8,000 of these are accepted to study. It is ranked in the top five universities in Europe for Engineering according to QS Top University World Ranking 2014. Amongst the prestigious alumni that have studied at the University are Italian billionaire businessman Stefano Pessina and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1963) Giulio Natta. Approximately 95% of students find a job within 6 months of graduating, reflecting the demand for this university’s students.
Sara Pickstock will make the journey to Milan to present The Pickstock Group to the students, giving an overview of the businesses in the group and the sectors in which they operate. The presentation will have a specific focus on the design requirements of The Pickstock Group and the opportunities available to graduates in the UK.
Sara will also run a workshop with two groups of pre-selected students. The workshop is aimed at testing the students on tasks relevant to The Pickstock Group. The first group will focus on product and communications design for the retail and the e-commerce sector. The second group will concentrate on architecture and urban planning and design for the construction industry.
Following the workshop Sara will get the opportunity to carry out speed interviewing, where each student will have a 10 minute interview, giving Sara the opportunity to ask more specific questions to individual students and attain a better understanding of their key skills and passion for design.
The Pickstock Group believes in investing in young talented people. Working in conjunction with a university such as Politecnico Di Milano is a great way of achieving this. Given the pedigree of the University and its location in Milan, the world’s capital for fashion and design, students will identify with The Pickstock Group, known for market leading innovation.
“The Pickstock Group prides itself on its innovation and forward-thinking,” commented Sara. “Meeting students with fresh ideas and impeccable creativity that will soon be graduating from one of the best Engineering University’s in Europe is a great opportunity. Keeping up-to-date with architectural design techniques is key to our business, and investing in young people from top design universities will inevitably enhance our design teams within The Pickstock Group.”
Alongside The Pickstock Group, other international companies presenting to students include: Louis Vuitton, Elica Group, Restore Solutions, and Snc Organisation Intragroupe des Achats (Auchan).
United States has a Need for Speed
The United States is beginning to wake up to the benefits of Fiber to the Home (FTTH). Currently, only 7.7% of broadband subscribers have optical fiber connections, which means that many companies and individuals are seeking places that give them access to faster connection speeds. This gives them an edge, allowing them to be more competitive and better connected.
The United States is lagging, ranking only 14th in the world for fiber connectivity. Countries like Sweden, where fiber-optic networks are increasingly accessible, can create thriving technology hubs, which boost potential to develop future advances in technology. Connections in New York cost 4 times as much as those in Stockholm, and are 17 times slower!
The adoption of FTTH has been slow in the United States. This is due in part to the way utilities are managed in the country, frequently leaving it to cable and telecom companies to develop faster connections and part to overly restrictive City and State ordinance, as well as historical charters which are no longer suitable for modern day infrastructure investment of such magnitude.
A few municipalities that have existing public utilities have gained access to FTTH. This provides a faster connection at a lower price. In Wilson, North Carolina a connection for FTTH could cost $150 a month, while the same service in Hollywood could cost $1,500-$3,000. However, cities without existing electric utilities are now beginning to encourage telecom and cable companies to develop FTTH networks, through easing of city ordinances and relaxation of permitting processes, such as Louisville and Los Angeles. Cities proactively engaging with the private sector will only increase their chances to break the fiber deadlock, and make FTTH a reality in their communities.
It’s not just the Cities that can help advocate the sector, other organisations are trying to stimulate FTTH accessibility, through creative means. Entities such as Gig U led by Blair Levin, are seeking to develop fiber networks to over 30 universities across the United States, using their collective strength and reputation to encourage investment where there is a vast demand.
SiFi Networks believes in Cities taking advantage of the opportunities to install future-proof FTTH networks. Broadband is no longer an entertainment medium but a utility as valuable to a community’s growth for the next 100 years as electricity and water. Our FOCUS™ Technology and FiberCity™ solutions are unique answers to the questions of making FTTH a reality.