Comcast has announced an expansion of its fiber-rich broadband network to unserved areas of Ouachita Parish, which will provide several hundred residential homes and businesses with access to a full suite of advanced communications services, including symmetrical gigabit speed internet.
The expansion is made possible by a $1.9 million grant from Louisiana’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) program, administered by the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, and a $1 million investment from Comcast. It is scheduled for completion in the next 12 months and will reach 357 homes and businesses.
“We are excited to bring Ouachita Parish some of the fastest internet speeds and most advanced technology available in the marketplace,” said Jason Gumbs, Regional Senior Vice President at Comcast. “Today is a true milestone for the Ouachita Parish community – hundreds of residents and businesses that were previously unserved will soon be connected to the power of the internet.”
“We applaud Comcast for its efforts to bridge the digital divide in Louisiana,” said Larry Bratton, Police Juror for district seat C in Ouachita Parish. “We understand how critical it is to have an internet connection, and today’s news opens the door to unlimited possibilities for our residents and business owners.”
Local businesses will have access to several advanced services, including gigabit speed internet, Wi-Fi, and Xfinity Mobile. Residential customers will have access to a full suite of services, including the following:
- Xfinity Internet, with speed tiers and pricing options from 100 Mbps through 1-gigabit; with Xfinity xFi, customers can personalize and control their in-home Wi-Fi experience;
- Xfinity Mobile, which combines America’s largest 5G network with millions of secure Xfinity WiFi hotspots;
- X1 entertainment platform and voice remote;
- Xfinity Flex, a simplified streaming solution for Xfinity Internet customers who do not want traditional TV video service; and
- Xfinity Home, a total home security and automation solution.
This expansion also provides families with access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest broadband adoption initiative for low-income families. Internet Essentials provides low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month, digital literacy training and discounted computers. This, along with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), gives income-constrained families support on their internet and mobile data plans.
Nationally, over the past five years and across Comcast’s service areas, the company has quadrupled its overall network capacity and doubled its fiber miles; deployed gigabit speeds to more homes than any other Internet Service Provider; upgraded all its speed tiers; and rolled out an entirely new class of gateways – the xFi Gateway and the xFi Advanced Gateway which are designed for higher speeds and blanket most homes with Wi-Fi coverage.
For residents looking to see if their neighborhood has access to Xfinity services, visit Xfinity.com/mytown. For businesses looking to connect, visit Business.Comcast.com.
