Fiber internet connections made in Pike

Several Southern Rivers Energy customers in Pike County have completed installations with Conexon Connect for high-speed fiber internet access.

Crews have been working across the county for months preparing the fiber lines. The fiber internet service is Connect, Powered by Southern Rivers Energy and the provider is Conexon Connect who will provide customer service, technical support and billing to SRE members who subscribe to internet service.

“Fiber construction crews are averaging 25-30 miles per week, and of the 35 circuits on our lines, 17 have been completed and have fiber access. With this pace, we are on track to complete construction and have fiber internet available to every SRE member by the end of 2023,” said SRE manager of member services and external affairs.

Conexon works with Rural Electric Cooperatives across the country to deliver fiber internet to homes in communities that lack reliable high-speed internet access. To check availability and sign up for internet service, go to conexonconnect.com.

According to Erin Cook, there are 5262 active SRE meters/accounts in Pike County and every home and business served by SRE is eligible for fiber internet service from Conexon Connect. System wide, the co-op serves more than 20,000 meters across nine counties and as of Dec. 31, more than 2,500 internet customers were connected in Pike, Lamar, Bibb, Crawford, Monroe and Upson County.

“Service became available for the first customers in Pike along the Lamar County line the first week in December. Construction will continue across the county, connecting customers as each circuit is completed and assuming we don’t have any delays, the last circuit will be completed along the Meriwether County line by mid-June,” she said. “We are nearly finished with Phase 1 and Phase 2 is already underway. Make-ready and fiber construction crews are working in the northern part of both Lamar and Pike County and just over both county lines into Spalding.”

SRE has 4,103 individual members in Pike County (the number of members differs from the number of accounts because one member may have multiple meters).

“Our reason for building the network is twofold – to strengthen our electric system and allow for the implementation of smart grid technologies that will improve electric service quality and reliability and, to create a path for Conexon Connect to make high-speed fiber internet available for every single location on our system,” said Erin Cook.

There are three internet packages offered through Conexon Connect, all with symmetrical speeds and no data caps – it’s all unlimited. Because it’s fiber and wired directly into the home or business, the number of people connected at the same time will not affect the speed. The minimum service package is 100 megabits per second (upload and download speed) for $49.95/month with managed WiFi for an additional $4.95/month. Visit conexonconnect.com.