Ekinops, a leader in optical transport and network access solutions, is enhancing its Ekinops360 optical transport platform to significantly increase the capacity of Whidbey Telecom’s middle mile transport network. Established in 1908, Whidbey Telecom provides telecommunication services to rural and geographically remote areas outside the Seattle metro region, including South Whidbey, Hat Island, and Point Roberts. Known for its innovative approach, Whidbey Telecom holds the distinction of being the first telephone company west of the Rocky Mountains to offer Internet services.
Upgrading Broadband Services Using Federal Funds
Leveraging USDA and NTIA Grants for Expansion
Whidbey Telecom is currently in the process of improving its broadband service offerings by utilizing funds obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development’s Community Connect Grants along with the NTIA’s Middle Mile program. These vital financial resources are intended to facilitate the deployment of a high-speed Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network aimed at accommodating a substantial increase in subscriber traffic. The implementation of this advanced network is crucial as consumer data usage continues to experience double-digit growth, coupled with heightened demands for faster connection speeds essential for modern internet usage demands.
The FTTH network will directly address the need for upgraded infrastructure, especially in the rural and remotely located areas served by Whidbey Telecom. This initiative not only enhances residential broadband services but also benefits local businesses requiring reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. By comprehensively utilizing these federal funds, Whidbey Telecom aims to fortify its broadband capabilities, ensuring that residents and enterprises in these underserved regions receive robust internet service solutions that meet contemporary digital requirements.
Ekinops’s Role in Infrastructure Modernization
To realize its ambitious infrastructure projects, Whidbey Telecom has turned to Ekinops’s aggregation and transport solutions, particularly focusing on the critical middle mile network segments that connect new FTTH sites to remotely situated regional Internet exchanges. These strategic connections are essential for providing stable and high-speed data transfer across the expansive service region. The introduction of the Ekinops360 platform, which includes the high-capacity PM_600FRS06-SF FlexRate™ Muxponder, will allow up to 600G of WDM transport capacity per-channel.
The Ekinops360 platform is complemented by the Celestis NMS, Ekinops’s sophisticated network management tool, which ensures streamlined and efficient network operations. The platform’s expansive capabilities facilitate connectivity across Whidbey Telecom’s service area, including challenging environments such as spans up to 90Km and an undersea segment that traverses the Salish Sea. Moreover, lower speed cards are employed to handle service aggregation at the network’s peripheral edges, optimizing the overall network’s performance and reliability. This integrated approach ensures that Whidbey Telecom’s infrastructure is robust and adaptable to future technological advancements.
Strategic Growth and Community Impact
Future Plans and Wholesale Services
COO Donna Hilty has commented on how this significant expansion represents the initial phase of Whidbey Telecom’s broader strategic build. It is designed to not only strengthen their broadband initiatives but also to enable the company to expand its wholesale service business. This expansion strategy opens up opportunities for providing backhaul services to partner service providers, extending even as far as Alaska. The development of these wholesale services is a strategic move aimed at tapping into new revenue streams, thereby sustaining long-term business growth and stability.
By leveraging the Ekinops360 platform, Whidbey Telecom is equipped to support a variety of applications that meet the needs of their diverse customer base. The flexibility and efficiency of Ekinops’s solutions allow Whidbey Telecom to address current demands while positioning itself to capitalize on future technological trends and market needs. This dual approach ensures that the company remains competitive and continues to deliver top-tier telecommunication services across its operational regions.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Ekinops, a prominent player in optical transport and network access solutions, is upgrading its Ekinops360 optical transport platform to notably boost the capacity of Whidbey Telecom’s middle mile transport network. Whidbey Telecom, established in 1908, delivers telecommunication services to rural and remote regions outside Seattle, encompassing South Whidbey, Hat Island, and Point Roberts. Renowned for its innovative methods, Whidbey Telecom pioneered Internet service deployment west of the Rocky Mountains, earning it a distinguished reputation. This enhancement by Ekinops will allow Whidbey Telecom to better serve its customers in these outlying areas, ensuring improved connectivity and network performance. This collaboration underscores the commitment of both companies to providing superior telecommunications infrastructure, meeting the growing demands of modern digital communication, especially in underserved areas. By upgrading the middle mile transport network, Whidbey Telecom can support more users and deliver higher-quality services, maintaining their legacy of innovation and service excellence for over a century.
