Chattanooga, Tennessee, continues its legacy of internet innovation. EPB, Chattanooga’s municipal utility, has launched the nation’s first community-wide 25 Gigabit per second (25,000 Mbps) internet service. This groundbreaking service, available to all residential and commercial customers, leverages a 100% fiber optic network with symmetrical upload and download speeds. This marks another milestone for EPB, following their 2010 launch of America’s first citywide Gig-speed internet and the 2015 debut of the first 10-Gig service.
EPB 25 Gig Internet: A New Era of Connectivity
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Convention Center is the first beneficiary of EPB’s 25 Gig service, becoming the first convention center globally to offer such high speeds. This capability will allow the center to support thousands of devices simultaneously, attracting large-scale events like business conferences, esports competitions, and live streams. This initiative was made possible through a partnership with Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga, who dedicated a combined $302,000 in funding to upgrade the Convention Center’s network infrastructure.
Local leaders emphasized the economic impact of this advancement. Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger highlighted the service as a “major competitive advantage” for attracting events and boosting the local economy. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly echoed this sentiment, stating that the 25 Gig service solidifies Chattanooga’s position as a leader in the “knowledge innovation economy.”
EPB and Nokia: Powering 25 Gig Internet with Fiber Optics
EPB’s 25 Gig service is powered by Nokia’s cutting-edge 25G PON (Passive Optical Network) fiber broadband technology. This allows EPB to deliver these unprecedented speeds across its entire network, avoiding costly and complex custom installations. Nokia’s 25G PON enables businesses to leverage the same fiber network for residential and commercial services, providing a scalable and efficient solution for growing bandwidth demands.
Further enhancing the Convention Center’s capabilities, EPB partnered with Arista Networks to upgrade the facility to Wi-Fi 6 with a multi-gig PoE campus switching platform. This ensures high-speed wireless and wired connectivity throughout the venue, complemented by robust security features from Arista.
EPB Internet: A History of Innovation
The launch of 25 Gig internet builds upon EPB’s history of pushing the boundaries of connectivity. Their previous upgrades to Gig-speed and 10 Gig internet have already positioned Chattanooga as a leading tech hub, attracting businesses and talent while boosting the local economy. This latest upgrade utilizes 25GS PON line cards integrated into existing fiber nodes, maximizing efficiency and minimizing disruption.
The impact of EPB’s high-speed internet extends beyond the tech sector. Tourism, economic development, and even the meetings industry have benefited from the enhanced connectivity, solidifying Chattanooga’s reputation as a desirable place to live, work, and visit. The speed and reliability of fiber optics allow for seamless upgrades, ensuring that EPB can continue to deliver cutting-edge internet speeds for years to come.
EPB’s commitment to innovation serves as a national model for community broadband, demonstrating the transformative power of fiber optic networks in driving economic growth and improving quality of life. For more information on EPB’s 25 Gig internet service, visit epb.com/gig25.
