Economically depressed rural communities in Southern Illinois to receive broadband boost

Southern Illinois is getting a broadband boost that is expected to increase jobs and allow for increased entrepreneurship while improving the economic outlook.

Current available broadband bandwidth is 380 Mbps – for the entire campus! (June 2011)

Two companies, Clearwave Communication and Shawnee Telephone are making this possible.

Clearwave is installing 740.4 miles of 96 count fiber cable.  This fiber backbone will span 23 counties and is expected to cost $45.4 million.  The rural communities in these counties have between 1,000 and 20,000 residents each.

Clearwave plans to connect 232 “anchor institutions” which include schools, hospitals, hospitals, health care and public service facilities, libraries, community colleges and the Southern Illinois University.  Southern Illinois University currently has a maximum available bandwidth of 380 Mbps – for the entire campus!

Shawnee Telephone is providing fiber directly to homes and businesses as part of  their “last mile” project.  Fiber will provide high-speed broadband to 27 anchor institutions, 420 businesses and 2,100 households.

Currently 40% of Shawnee Telephone’s customers do not have access to any broadband and the others have a maximum speed of 5 Mbps.  The fiber will provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Shawnee Telephone will spend $8.4 million for this project.