Dixie Electric Power Association’s board of directors approved the expansion of DE Fastlink, LLC’s high-speed internet services to the association’s entire service territory.
A pilot project is currently underway in southeastern Jones and northwestern Perry counties, and the project has been successful. DE Fastlink, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dixie Electric, provides high-speed internet through fiber optic cable. Fiber optic cable is the fastest and most reliable form of internet service.
The important question for those living in Dixie Electric’s service area is, “When will it be available in my area?” A construction schedule is being developed. As new areas become available, DE Fastlink will announce them on its website, through social media, and by other means, such as a mail-out to members’ homes.
More than 3,000 miles of fiber optic cable are required to provide high-speed internet service to the entire service area. The rollout to the entire service will likely take four to five years to complete. Providing high-speed internet to the home is a multi-step process: 1. Fiber optic cable must be strung on the existing power poles; 2. The fiber optic cable has to be extended to each individual’s home who wants service; 3. A technician will visit a customer’s home to install the equipment and set up internet service.
“I would like to commend our board for making this decision. More than 80 years ago, brave farmers decided to bring electric power to rural areas. Now, our board has made a similar brave decision, once again, to improve the quality of life for rural Mississippians by providing high-speed internet for distance learning, telemedicine, and job opportunities,” said Randy Smith, general manager of Dixie Electric and president of DE Fastlink.
In addition to high-speed internet, DE Fastlink will offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service in the coming months, and customers will have the opportunity to bundle services as well.
Stay tuned to DE Fastlink’s social media pages and website to see where the service will expand next. Once an area is announced, customers can sign up for service at the DE Fastlink Website and pick a package. At this time, only members in phase one and phase two of the pilot project are eligible to sign up.