Buckeye Broadband’s launch of its 10-gigabyte fiber optic service in the region will benefit internet users at home and at work, offering increased network speed and reliability, company officials said.

At home, customers invested in gaming, video streaming, and internet-connected devices such as security cameras, lights, and thermostats will benefit from the tenfold increase in speed.

“I’m really excited about the upgrade in speed and the fiber service,” said Venus Williams, the district manager of Buckeye Broadband’s Brainiac Tech Hubs. “Now that we can offer it, it's something that everyone is really excited about. And this is where the future is headed.”

Buckeye Broadband, formerly Buckeye CableSystem, is the cable and internet company owned by Block Communications Inc., which is the parent company of The Blade.

Increased capacity means that those devices no longer have to jostle for network attention, especially as household appliances are increasingly granted network connectivity.

“A lot of customers have a very great need for the high-speed service that we offer,” Ms. Williams said.

Geoff Shook, president and general manager of Buckeye Broadband, said Toledo is one of the first cities in Ohio to have 10-gigabyte capacity broadband because of the company’s investment.

“I think this puts us in a good position for recruiting other businesses to come to the area,” Mr. Shook said. “It’s another added recruitment tool that our community has.”

Fiber optic cables have fewer potential points of failure than traditional coaxial cables. This makes them easier and cheaper to maintain than old technology, he said.

Fiber optic cables also transmit bandwidth more efficiently, requiring less electrical amplification than old technology. This means Buckeye Broadband needs to use less electricity and fewer battery supplies to power the fiber optic network, Mr. Shook explained.

On the coaxial network that is being phased out, Buckeye Broadband was limited to only about one gigabyte of bandwidth, meaning that the new fiber optic cables provide a tenfold increase in capacity. Still, the increased capacity that fiber optic cables provide has allowed Buckeye Broadband to double broadband delivered to customers on the rest of their network.

“As for the speed upgrades, everyone’s loving that,” said Benny Fleming, the Lead Broadband Experience Consultant for the Buckeye Brainiacs Tech Hub at Spring Meadows.

Customers who have not noticed a speed increase for their internet may solve the problem by resetting their routers or acquiring new, more capable modem technology, he said.

The plan to upgrade was initiated in 2020, before the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Upgrades were funded without government assistance.

“The entire Buckeye Broadband footprint will eventually receive the upgraded fiber optic cable,” Mr. Shook said. “We continue to build 200 to 300 miles a year. We’re looking for ways to accelerate it and do it faster.”

Fiber optic services through Buckeye Broadband start at $114.99 a month, plus tax.

First Published July 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m.