South Slope Cooperative Communications launches major network upgrade

NORTH LIBERTY -- South Slope Cooperative Communications, in partnership with BTI Systems of Ontario, Canada, has launched a major upgrade of its network for business and residential customers in the Corridor.

South Slope replaced its existing three-vendor network infrastructure with a single, integrated solution from BTI, lowering capital expenditures, operating expenses and simplifying operations with a unified management system. Many of South Slope's customers have been moved seamlessly to the new system, according to Justyn Miller, chief executive officer of South Slope Cooperative Communications.

"As a key player in the Cedar Rapids - North Liberty - Iowa City Tech Corridor, we are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service now and in the future," Miller said. "With BTI, we have installed the best network foundation to scale our network and support new broadband multimedia services.

"Broadband revenue streams are critical under the new Federal Communications Commission rulings. As a partner, BTI understands our business and we have deployed our state-of-the-art network on time and on budget."

Miller said South Slope's decision to upgrade its network capability matches the results of a survey conducted by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association.  The survey found that smaller, rural telecommunication service providers are deploying advanced services at a rate that far exceeds the rural markets served by larger carriers.

BTI's system will enable South Slope to connect all of its exchanges, with the ability to quickly add new capacity as needed in the future. Miller said combination of products and services from BTI provides South Slope with sufficient network capacity to reliably and cost-effectively meet the rapid growth of Ethernet business service delivery.

While the growth of business demand is difficult to forecast, Miller said South Slope's network should have more than sufficient capacity to meet expanded service requirements. He said BTI's system also will allow South Slope to provide virtual private networks to larger commercial customers.

In line with South Slope's focus on customer service, Miller said the company also is continuing a $50 million upgrade of fiber optic service to homes and businesses in its service territory. The North Liberty telecommunications providers has been a leader in the installation of fiber optic to the home or business.

South Slope, Iowa's largest rural independent operating company, serves a number of Corridor communities, including south and west Cedar Rapids, Amana, Ely, Fairfax, Newhall, North Liberty, Norway, Oxford, Solon, Shueyville, Tiffin, Watkins, Walford and parts of Coralville.