The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania public school system will connect to a new fiber broadband network following a contract award to Fibertech. 61 sites will be included in the first phase of the network. The school system says it wants to be able to connect more students to more devices without worrying about broadband constraints.
The new network will consist of an ethernet 10 Gigabit network from Fibertech Networks. It also includes a 10 gigabit ring delivering 1 gigabit of dedicated internet access to the school system data center.
“We were seeking to increase the speed of our data network between all of our sites, while reducing costs,” said Scott Gutowski, Chief of Information and Technology for Pittsburg Public Schools. “The network will allow us to efficiently and effectively serve the IT and communications requirements of our administration, faculty and students between our facilities.”
The Fibertech project will leverage an existing 480-mile fiber optic network in Pittsburgh and will connect lateral networks to each site.
Earlier this month Fibertech picked up a networking project to connect rural customers in Delaware. The $1 million state grant for that project will connect approximately 18 miles of new network to Seaford in the west and approximately 18 miles of new network to Lewes on the east. Fibertech already operates more than 300 miles of fiber optic network throughout Delaware.
Fibertech recently merged with Lightower Fiber Networks,in an all cash transaction valued at $1.9 billion. The combined company will own and operate a fiber-based network throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Current Lightower Fiber Networks investors include Berkshire Partners, Pamlico Capital, and ABRY Partners. Current Fibertech Networks investors include Court Square Capital Partners.
