Mediacom expanding commercial service in Springfield

A Mediacom Communications Corp. division plans to expand its high-speed broadband service to hundreds of commercial properties in Springfield.

The Mediacom Business initiative, dubbed Project Open Road, would invest $1 billion over the next three years to upgrade and expand its national broadband network. The project is designed to introduce more businesses to the company’s gigabit-level internet speeds, according to a news release.

“In certain areas of the city, construction costs and installation timeframes have been barriers to connecting customers,” said Mediacom Business Senior Vice President Dan Templin, referring to plans in Springfield, in the release. “The goal of Project Open Road is to eliminate those issues and give more businesses the option of immediate serviceability.”

Specifically, the company will target unserved and underserved businesses in Springfield.

During the next six months, Mediacom Business will approach property owners to request right of entry. With permission, the company would wire the properties allowing business tenants access to gigabit internet. Mediacom identified the properties via surveys and physical walk-out studies, according to the release.

Construction on the new service lines is expected to begin later this year and wrap up in the first half of 2017.