Mississippi utility co-op deploys fiber network for broadband and smart grid connectivity

4-County Electric Power Association (4-County) in partnership with communications solutions firms DZS and Irby Utilities is expanding the rollout of a fiber network from pilot phase into full implementation.

4-County is using over $35 million in funding secured from the Rural Digital Opportunity Funds (RDOF), its own investments and millions in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Funding to expand the Fastnet Fiber programme.

Now in its second year, the Fastnet Fiber programme includes the installation of 3.700 miles of fiber in Eastern Mississippi to provide broadband and smart grid connectivity.

The network will provide high-speed and secure connectivity to over 40,000 homes and businesses and the utility’s 50,000 meters along 5,500 miles of power lines.

Brian Clark, the CEO of 4-County said: “This groundbreaking FASTnet Fiber project is more than just bridging the digital divide – It is obliterating it by bringing multi-gigabit capable hyper-broadband services via GPON and XGS-PON access technologies to areas with extremely limited broadband access.

“As this network comes to fruition, it will catapult 4-County’s membership straight to the forefront of the digital age and provide transformational opportunity to our region.”

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The project is expected to be completed in early 2024 and will enable the utility co-op to provide smart grid services including smart metering and prepayment and distribution grid automation.

The fiber network is a foundation by the co-op to offer other smart city services as well.

Secure, fast and resilient connectivity is a basic need in a fast-changing utility environment where utility consumers are demanding innovative and green services.

Smart grid capabilities would also provide the utility with the ability to monitor its grid infrastructure in real-time and in the process reduce operational costs, increase the life span of grid assets through optimal maintenance as well as enhance customer services by decreasing the occurrence and duration of power disruption.

With Mississippi prone to outages that result from harsh weather conditions, real-time connectivity and grid monitoring will ensure 4-County is able to respond to service disruptions faster than when the utility relies on consumer calls reporting outages.

The network would also enable the utility co-op to fast track the region’s transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy through active management and monitoring of distributed energy resources such as electric vehicle charging and energy storage infrastructure.