Carlsbad CA— At the end of this year, the City of Carlsbad will flip the switch on a new digital information network utilizing high speed fiber optic cable. The project will enhance the efficiency of city operations and save about $250,000 a year in broadband costs.
The new digital information network was made possible through an agreement with Crown Castle Communications, which has installed high speed fiber throughout Carlsbad. The city negotiated rights to a portion of the company’s fiber optic cable for its own use.
The City Council approved the agreement on Dec. 17, 2019. City IT staff told the City Council Tuesday that in spite of the COVID-19 public health emergency, city staff and contractors have been able to install the needed equipment and keep the project moving forward.
The first step is to turn the system on for the city’s primary business network by the end of the year. This will not only provide a faster internet connection to all city systems, but patrons of the city’s libraries and senior center will notice an improvement when they use public computers and the public Wi-Fi. In early 2021 the system should be ready for the city’s smart traffic signal system to be moved over to the high speed network.