City of Fairborn, Cincinnati Bell, partner on WiFi network in business corridor
February 16, 2018
The City of Fairborn, Ohio, and Cincinnati Bell are partnering to provide a public WiFi network downtown as part of the city’s economic development efforts and commitment to supporting small businesses.
Cincinnati Bell’s WiFi network will initially provide Fioptics WiFi along Main Street, from Dayton Drive to Broad Street. The network will include 10 wireless access points, and is expected to be operational in 2018.
The WiFi network will provide connectivity to downtown visitors, and generate valuable data analytics that the city and its businesses can leverage to better serve residents and customers.
“As broadband needs continue to grow, fiber technology allows us to remain competitive, attract new businesses to our community and increase productivity,” said Pete Bales, Fairborn Assistant City Manager. “Municipal networks create jobs by ensuring businesses and consumers have fast, affordable and reliable Internet access.”
The partnership is just the latest example of Fairborn’s ongoing investment into its downtown corridor. The Fairborn Development Corporation in 2017 purchased the 300 Block of West Main Street, and is transforming the property into an expansive startup incubator called Spark Fairborn.
Spark Fairborn, currently operating at 311 West Main Street, provides entrepreneurs with access to programming, resources, and co-working space to support their businesses. Spark Fairborn currently houses a Gluten-Free kitchen incubator, and will house a more expansive kitchen incubator that is expected to open later this summer. Cincinnati Bell’s high-speed WiFi network will provide Spark Fairborn businesses with connectivity that is critical for growth.
Cincinnati Bell is also providing a 100 percent fiber Fioptics system to the entire 300 block of Main Street, and has naming rights to Spark Fairborn’s co-working and conference room spaces.
“Cincinnati Bell has been connecting businesses and customers for more than 140 years, and our WiFi partnership with the City of Fairborn continues this tradition,” said Jason Praeter, President of Cincinnati Bell’s Entertainment & Communications business. “We are proud to be working with leadership from the City of Fairborn on this important economic development initiative.”
About Cincinnati Bell Inc.
With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE: CBB) provides integrated communications solutions - including local and long distance voice, data, high-speed Internet and video - that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States and Canada rely on CBTS and OnX, wholly-owned subsidiaries, for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com. The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference in this press release.
Cincinnati Bell Inc.
MEDIA CONTACT
Josh Pichler, 513 565-0310
josh.pichler@cinbell.com