Citywide Fiber-Optic Line Installation Coming To Salem

SALEM, MA — Greater internet service competition could be soon coming to Salem through its agreement with a private fiber infrastructure developer to install fiber-optic lines throughout the city.

The company – SiFi Networks – said the contract allows for $35 million in private investment to help fund the project, which it said will include no taxpayer subsidy or municipal funding. The lines will be spread throughout the city through micro-trenching, which means road work could be coming to many neighborhoods in the coming months as well.

SiFi Networks said the private lines will allow newer companies to compete with internet giants like Comcast without having to fund their own infrastructure. This, it said, will create more access equity since many large internet competitors choose to move into more affluent communities to get a quicker return on initial investments.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll touted the project as one that will "improve the quality of life for residents, spur greater economic growth and facilitate the installation of smart city technologies."

"Enhancing access and options for high-speed internet is especially essential during our response and recovery from COVID-19," she said, "as we strive to close the digital divide, help more residents access vital online services for work, education and family connections, and simply provide greater choices for our residents and businesses."

One of SiFi’s pilot cities was Fullerton, Calif. The company said it provided residents there with faster internet speeds, a greater choice of providers and enhanced city initiatives such as AI-based traffic control, environmental monitoring and smart lighting, as well as improved internet access.

"We are interested in long-term investments, so we build citywide," said Ben Bawtree-Jobson, CEO of SiFi Networks in a statement. "We believe that excellent connectivity helps level the playing field."

The Fullerton Observer did report in February 2019 about some complaints from residents about roads being damaged during the micro-trenching installation process.

"Because they were not a traditional utility agency," Fullerton Department of Public Works Director Meg McWade told the Observer, "SiFi's team did not have a great deal of experience with the typical requirements for working in the public right-of-way in terms of traffic control and public notification.

"This necessitated a great deal of oversight by the city, and city staff have been working closely with SiFi to improve the quality of their trenches as well as their public outreach program, and we will continue to work closely with the contractor to improve the timeliness of their repair work."

A SiFi spokesperson told the Observer in response to the Fullerton issues: "Though we believe the issues you've spotlighted have been addressed, we thank you for ensuring your readers are aware that this project is privately financed, that we have guaranteed our workmanship to ensure it meets the city's criteria and that while we continually push the contractor to reach the higher standards, original road conditions dictate the appearance of the final remediation."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)