Fiber Optic Upgrades at Nye County Vastly Improve Internet Speeds

From 38 megabits per second to 1 gigabit

PAHRUMP, Nev. (Jan. 30, 2017) – With fiber-optic communications installation at Nye County offices on Calvada completed in January, workers are experiencing more reliable video conferencing, are better able to move large data files faster and more efficiently, and they are looking forward to improved emergency response times.

Milan Dimic, Director of Information Technology for Nye County, said the new service, installed in January 2017, has been like a breath of fresh air.

“It has been performing wonderfully,” said Dimic.

The average speeds have improved from 38 megabits per second to 1 gigabit, 26 times faster. The speed of the connections is immediately apparent, but the improved reliability of the network makes an enormous difference as well, Dimic said.

“We had many issues with response times before,” he said, “including delays that were intolerable. The connections were inconsistent and unpredictable. Bandwidth would drop with no warning. Since the fiber was installed, I’ve had zero complaints.”

With the new fiber connections, the county will soon begin moving workers to the main county complex on Calvada to improve efficiencies and consolidate functionality. “It didn’t make sense to put even more people on poor connections. But now it does.”

With the improved performance of the communications network, Dimic sees other benefits around the corner, namely, improved response times for emergency personnel and an upgrades video conferencing network between Pahrump and Tonopah.

Mobile data terminals will be reinstalled in the vehicles used by deputies after being removed six or seven years ago because of performance issues related to inadequate bandwidth. The deputies “quit using them because they were so unreliable,” said Dimic. With a better ability to transmit data to the deputies, the terminals are being reinstalled in the vehicles.

Dimic said tests on the fiber network have shown sheriff’s deputies are able to respond to calls more than a minute faster because of better access to data servers containing critical information for law enforcement personnel (vehicle identification and registration numbers).

New software to improve the quality of the live feed of Online meetings. “The new connection will allow us to install newer, better equipment for videotaping the commissioners’ meetings and others,” said Dimic. “We have had many complaints from the public about the reliability and dependability of the feed.”

Overall, Dimic said the county is very pleased with the service. “Getting Tonopah improved will really help. If there is a complaint, I wish I could have had it 10 months ago.”

About Valley Communications Association, Inc.

Valley Communications Association, Inc., (VCA), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Valley Electric Association, Inc., (VEA) a nonprofit electric utility headquartered in Pahrump, Nev. Much like VEA did 52 years ago, VCA is bringing critical infrastructure – fiber-optic and wireless broadband – to the communities in its vast 6,800-square-mile service area along the Nevada-California border that were under served by commercial communications providers. VCA is a partner in the long-haul fiber-optic network between Las Vegas and Reno and will expand into VoIP, IPTV, SmartHome and I.T. services in 2017. Long term, VCA’s goal is to expand modern broadband to rural communities of Nevada. For more information about VEA, please visit www.vea.coop.