FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sparklight Business announced today it has completed construction on a fiber-optic network that will provide fast and reliable high-speed internet service to businesses in Payson, Arizona.
The new state-of-the-art fiber network is capable of 2 Gigabit symmetrical speeds, offering the fastest internet speeds in the area and the ability to handle the needs of small and medium enterprise customers – now and in the future.
“For small and medium sized businesses, reliable internet connectivity has become more important than ever,” said Chris Boone, Senior Vice President of Business Services and Emerging Markets. "Our extensive fiber deployment and continued investment in improving and expanding our network enables us to offer the fastest, most reliable internet connections at the best value, while contributing to the economic development of the communities we serve."
The Payson expansion is just one part of a larger $29 million expansion project bringing high-speed internet to Gila County. With funding from three agencies, Sparklight Business has completed its fiber transport network from Show Low to communities across northern Gila County, including Payson, Heber-Overgaard and Star Valley. At more than 200 route miles and nearly 29,000 fiber miles, this is one of the largest, single-fiber construction projects Sparklight has executed.
“Thanks to the multiple partners and agencies, including the MHA Foundation, Arizona Commerce Authority and the Universal Service Administrative Company, that have helped us make this extensive and necessary project a reality. We are excited to already see the benefits in Payson and look forward to seeing how high-speed internet will benefit the communities we’ll be serving,” added Boone.
Upon completion of the project, Sparklight Business will provide high-speed internet service to 17 sites throughout Gila County, including libraries as well as public, charter and private schools. The company anticipates completing the full Gila County expansion project by summer 2022.
“Faster, more reliable internet means a stronger community and more opportunity for businesses and residents alike,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “This project will bring generational benefits to Gila County small businesses and their customers. We are grateful to Governor Ducey and our legislature for providing funding to assist this project and to all the community partners who have come together to build out this fiber optic network. We look forward to seeing the many long-term benefits it will produce.”
Sparklight Business offers several internet plans, allowing businesses to choose the level of service that’s right for them, beginning at 50 Mbps and easily scaling to 2 Gbps. Larger businesses also have the option of choosing Sparklight’s 10 Gbps plan through its dedicated internet access (DIA) service.
Businesses can visit business.sparklight.com for more details.
About Sparklight Business
Sparklight Business helps businesses of all sizes increase productivity by providing superior connectivity solutions at an affordable price and backing those solutions with the highest level of customer service and support. The company offers a wide range of products, including high-speed and fiber-based Internet, business phone plans including hosted voice and voice trunking, ethernet networks and video solutions. Today, the company serves more than 76,000 businesses across 21 states. For more information, please visit business.sparklight.com.
About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce.
CONTACT:
Sabrina Leon
Communications Manager
623.695.9411
[email protected]
