Gigabit services spur economic growth and urban development as communities transform into competitive powerhouses for tomorrow’s data-driven economy

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 11, 2015-- ADTRAN®, Inc., (NASDAQ: ADTN), a leading provider of next-generation networking solutions, announced it has enabled Gigabit broadband services to over 200 communities as part of its Enabling Communities, Connecting Lives program. As the first broadband infrastructure supplier to hit this milestone, ADTRAN is helping service providers, cable operators, municipalities and rural carriers to deploy the ultra-fast broadband services that are changing the game for community revitalization across the country.

“When we launched our Enabling Communities, Connecting Lives program a little over a year ago, we envisioned every community regardless of size could realize the transformative benefits of Gigabit broadband. Thanks to the momentum of our customers, we are far surpassing our initial goals and the vision is becoming a reality, with more than 200 communities now reaping the benefits of Gigabit services,” said Jay Wilson, senior vice president of technology and strategy, ADTRAN. “Our service provider customers are seeing a sizeable impact to their business as Gigabit broadband is providing a ‘halo effect’ in helping them win and keep new customers. All of these factors combined are creating a new foundation for today’s digital economy.”

Recent surveys have shown the momentum is just beginning. NTCA- The Rural Broadband Association released a survey stating 85 percent of responding service providers indicate they have long-term fiber deployment strategies. In the past 12 months, ADTRAN has witnessed firsthand the positive impact communities have enjoyed from these deployments. Some key benefits include:

• Economic Development: The availability of Gigabit throughout towns and cities has proven to attract new businesses to the area, stimulating local economies. According to a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council study, communities with widely available Gigabit broadband access experience a 1.1 percent higher per capita GDP than areas without Gigabit. Cities in Mississippi are seeing this up close as they transform from sleepy college towns to hubs for future business investment, attracting global companies to support thousands of local jobs.
• Education: Gigabit broadband is providing school districts with the necessary bandwidth to ensure online education for more personalized learning experiences as well as maximizing the benefit of E-rate funding projects. Schools throughout 15 Ohio districts are using Gigabit service to meet local educational mandates while transitioning from a structured to individualized learning experience in the classroom. The technology is bringing networks together, allowing schools, administrators, teacher and students to communicate in new, innovative ways while learning at their own pace.
• Real Estate: A recent FTTH Councilstudy proclaims that communities with access to fiber-delivered Internet can increase home values by up to 3.1 percent, or nearly $5,500 on a median priced home of $175,000. According to real estate agents in Oregon, this holds true as they are seeing a rise in Gigabit popularity in neighborhood criteria. Agents have reported an increase in homebuyers looking for properties specifically in areas deploying Gigabit, or expecting to in the near future.
• Telecommuting : Gigabit is opening the doors for increased work flexibility by allowing employees to work remotely. Residents located just outside the tech hub of Silicon Valley are oftentimes experiencing faster speeds at home vs. their workplace. As a result, telecommuters are able to enjoy a more affordable, higher quality of life without having to give up big city jobs. All the time saved in not commuting also translates to a lower carbon footprint.
• Agriculture : The delivery of Gigabit speeds is helping streamline crucial agriculture processes as well as enable new services. In Indiana, a dairy farm is using Gigabit broadband to remotely monitor milk production and processing. The farm is also delivering remote and on-site educational experiences by supporting connected, interactive learning centers for children.
• Healthcare: Hospitals and healthcare offices are deploying Gigabit broadband as they look to boost the quality of patient care. For those with ultra-fast broadband speeds, doctors, specialists and nurses are able to work efficiently with colleagues on-site and remotely. In Tennessee, doctors are able to provide care that previously wasn’t available, with a local knee surgeon using Gigabit broadband to assist with 3D printing for developing patient-specific knee replacements.

“Communities around the globe – from dense urban to sparse rural and everywhere in between – have determined that affordable high-speed broadband is no longer a nicety, but a requirement for economic prosperity and quality of life,” said Greg Whelan, Principal, Greywale Insights. “Deploying fiber rich Gigabit broadband is the logical way to go. It gives the network operator great flexibility to serve business and residences with a range of cost-effective options. We know that when broadband rates increase the global innovation engine creates new compelling applications that drive economic development and improve our lives.”

ADTRAN’s Enabling Communities, Connecting Lives program showcases how innovative technologies are being used in cities, towns and communities across the country to support economic growth and urban development. These communities are using ADTRAN’s world-class Wi-Fi and fiber-based Gigabit broadband along with Cloud connectivity solutions to reinvigorate downtown business and residential districts, connect classrooms with other learning centers around the world, and help attract new companies seeking to relocate out of crowded urban centers.