Smithville Digital wins Ivy Tech connectivity contract
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS & COLUMBUS, Indiana An Indiana telecommunications company will forge critical fiber optic data and video connectivity between Ivy Tech Community College campuses. Smithville Digital, a subsidiary of Smithville Telephone (Indiana’s largest privately held telecommunications company) announced it has been awarded the contract to provide gigabit fiber-optic connectivity to Ivy Tech Community College. The fiber optic network will connect Ivy Tech’s Columbus campus with the Indianapolis campus and provide distance learning opportunities to the southern Indiana region.
In addition to the Columbus to Indianapolis fiber, Smithville Digital is currently in the final stages of connecting Ivy Tech’s Kokomo and Bloomington Campuses to Indianapolis with gigabit fiber-optic connectivity. The fiber connecting all three campuses will be operational by November 30.
“Fiber optic connectivity between Ivy Tech’s main campus in Indianapolis and its outlying regional campuses is extremely important for distance learning opportunities that could otherwise not exist,” said Smithville Digital President Cullen McCarty. “Fiber-optic broadband connectivity is integral for educating and training our workforce throughout the state and Smithville is dedicated to fostering high-speed connectivity wherever there exists a need.”
Ivy Tech Community College is committed to meeting the needs of students who value education, but must balance their higher education goals with time for their family life and career. The result of providing distance learning as an option is a win/win for workforce development, education and our students.
"Ivy Tech Community College has implemented a new network design that allows much greater bandwidth to all of our campuses allowing students faster access to online resources offered by the College,” said Anthony Harte, chief technology officer for Ivy Tech Community College. "This includes our distance education offerings and prepares us for the convergence of data, voice and video services over the network."
In September, Smithville Digital beat out several national providers through a competitive bid process to exclusively provide optical fiber service (fiber broadband) to the city of Columbus and area businesses, a move touted by state and local officials as an essential step to spurring economic development efforts in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
Smithville Digital currently manages the Indiana Digital Gateway, which provides fiber-optic broadband services to Indiana companies, cities and technology parks like Cook Inc., Bloomington Hospital, Monroe County Schools, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Purdue Research Park, WestGate @ Crane Technology Park, EG&G Inc., City of Bloomington and many other organizations throughout the state.
“We’re one of the only fiber providers serving cities, counties and businesses with direct fiber-optic network connections that will also lay pipe and fiber, handle construction services and anything additional our customers need. We’re an Indiana company that does it all, which differentiates us from the competition,” said McCarty.
About Smithville Digital
Smithville Digital was formed in 2003 to offer the highest technological services for businesses and networking throughout the state of Indiana. Smithville Digital provides a fiber-optic means of digital data transmission to its customers. Fiber-optic technology allows for “last mile” connectivity as well as network management solutions to help customers meet their data transmission needs. For more information about Smithville Digital visit www.smithvilledigital.net.
Smithville Digital was formed as a spin-off of Smithville Telephone Company. Founded in 1922, Smithville Telephone has grown to be Indiana’s largest independent telecom company. Smithville Telephone Company has expanded its services to include Smithville Digital as well as DSL services. The headquarters are located in Ellettsville, Ind. For more information please visit www.smithville.net.