$2.3 million contract for fiber optic cable installation approved by Ocala City Council - Ocala-News.com

City officials renewed a multi-million dollar contract to continue the installation of fiber optic cables and expand the Ocala Fiber Network.

The one-year contract renewal with Service and Technology Network Solutions, Inc., for underground and aerial fiber optic cable installation services on an “as-needed basis” was approved by council members on Tuesday, February 18.

The company was previously awarded a $2.3 million contract in December 2022 for $3 million for the “provision of dielectric and non-dielectric self-supporting fiber installation services.” That first contract was for a term of two years with two, one-year renewal options.

Tuesday’s approval represents the first of those one-year renewal options and continues the city’s commitment to improving the Ocala Fiber Network.

Last month, Ocala City Council members approved a two-year, $1.6 million contract with American Cable Electric, LLC, a Tallahassee-based company that is handling the installation of underground conduits to support fiber construction.

During a workshop with city officials last year, a consultant hired for $100,000 provided several recommendations to the service provider, including freezing rates.

After that workshop, OFN announced a series of changes to help expand the network.

Fiber optic internet uses light to transfer data at a higher speed than electricity. The cables are comprised of glass fibers that transmit data as pulses of light. Those pulses transmit data faster than traditional internet connections that use copper wires and electric signals.

Would you try the new services offered by Ocala Fiber Network if they were expanded into your neighborhood? Share your comments or, if you have more to say, submit a letter to the editor.