Saratoga Springs eyes becoming FiberCity

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Buzz is building about Saratoga Springs becoming a FiberCity.

Representatives from SiFi Networks held a virtual information session in partnership with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce for businesses and community members looking to learn more about the potential fiber project.

This project, if approved by the Saratoga Springs City Council, will bring every home and business in the city access to the ultra-high-speed open access fiber network that will provide the highest residential internet speeds in the United States, according to SiFi Networks.

SiFi Networks president of wholesale sales Joseph Patton explained what the networks allow. “We provide the foundation for all of the different technologies that are coming now and into the future – connected cars, connected refrigerators, connected dog collars. I say that and people chuckle, but it’s true, and it’s happening now and it all relies on bandwidth. And that bandwidth is critical.”

Company spokesperson and broadband expert Bob Knight agrees, “It’s a game-changer.” Knight explained that if the local initiative is given the green light, it would be the first open access network in New York state.

Currently, SiFi Networks is in a test phase with the city. Fiber was installed last fall using microtrenching in two one-mile-long test areas, on a commercial section of Broadway and in a residential area off of Buff Road on the city’s west side.

The next step is for city leaders to evaluate how construction materials used to build the FiberCity network perform during winter conditions.

SiFi Networks is confident that the test sites will hold up to the weather, and hopeful that the project will receive final approvals shortly after the city’s review in the spring.

While the project is expected to cost $32 million, speakers on Friday’s call were clear that it will be of zero cost to taxpayers. The all-fiber network is privately funded, built and operated by SiFi Networks and is open access to enable numerous internet service providers to deliver gigabit internet services.

The SiFi Networks representatives also highlighted how the new infrastructure will come with a multitude of benefits for businesses such as security, productivity, employee satisfaction, collaboration and cost reductions.

Having this network could help attract new businesses to the city. “Fiber really enables new companies to come in,” Patton said, “and companies that are there currently to grow more rapidly.”

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president Todd Shimkus said it is really important that the city moves forward with this project, providing insight on how becoming New York state’s first FiberCity could bring increased opportunity to build the economy in Saratoga County.

“Having us be a FiberCity gives us a tremendous advantage in talent recruitment, and no doubt right now the number one challenge local businesses have is that we can’t find enough workers. The only way to fix that is to grow our population, and that means talent recruitment. And what you’re going to do is going to help us make it easier to attract people here. So it’s not just the business investment, it’s also the people that will want to live here as a result of us being the only city in all of New York state that has this system in place,” he said.

“This is very important for the future of the city … and we’re looking forward to a very long and productive relationship together,” Knight added, expressing that SiFi Networks is eager to get started on the project. “We’re ready to go. We’ve got the crews ready and we’re chomping at the bit.”

More information about the Saratoga Springs Fibercity project is available online at saratogaspringsfibercity.com.