Press release
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Leverages Ribbon and KGPCo IP Optical Solutions to Bring Broadband Access to Rural Customers
Member-owned utility provider uses RDOF and CARES Act grants to upgrade its network and help bridge the digital divide by offering high speed internet access
About this update from Ribbon Communications Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Member-owned utility provider uses RDOF and CARES Act grants to upgrade its network and help bridge the digital divide by offering high speed internet access to all customers\n\n\nPLANO, Texas, June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global provider of real time communications software and IP Optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure sectors, today announced that Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, a provider of ultra-high speed internet and HD phone services to its member customers across Northwest Alabama, has selected Ribbon and KGPCo, the leading network solutions and services supplier to service providers, to upgrade its fiber network and help bring high speed access to its rural customers. Tombigbee is leveraging Ribbon's Apollo IP Optical network solution and KGPCo's hut locations, fiber, routers and Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) access systems to deliver broadband access to member customers in its most rural service areas. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\"We were fortunate enough to be recipients of grants from the federal government's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and CARES Act and we want use these funds to deliver high speed broadband access to any of our member customers who want it,\" said Steve Foshee, CEO of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative. \"Many of our members live in previously underserved areas and don't have access to high-speed internet, so our goal is to make Northwest Alabama a Gigabit Ethernet Zone. Leveraging Ribbon's advanced IP Optical platform and KGPCo's industry-leading fiber, routing and access capabilities we are able to deliver ultra-high speed internet access and broadband to all of our customers, regardless of where they live.\"\n\"Funding from the RDOF and CARES Act will go a long way in helping forward-thinking service providers like Tombigbee extend broadband service to those who have previously not had access,\" said Steven Bruny, EVP Sales, Americas Region for Ribbon. \"We are honored Tombigbee selected our IP Optical solutions to help upgrade their network. We are also extremely pleased to continue our strong partnership with KGPCo and offer Tombigbee an end-to-end turnkey solution.\"\nBruny added, \"The Apollo's small form factor with integrated amplifiers and enhanced fiber health management capa...