NineStar连接 is unlike any rural co-op in America. The company offers Fiber to the Home (FTTH)及商业(FTTB), electricity, water 和 sewer services. 他们的新愿景始于2011年，当时汉考克电信(Hancock Telecom)和印第安纳中央电力公司(Central Indiana Power)合并，创建了一家基础设施巨头, driving economic development 和 growth.
“Step one was to deliver higher-quality, smart services 为 combined 权力 和 电信 customers,Michael Burrow评论道, president 和 CEO of NineStar连接. “Deciding to add wet services more recently, 我们已经有了光纤系统，使水和下水道智能化, 也.”
Burrow认为光纤网络的可靠性和无限带宽是支持所有业务的有价值的“货币”. Since 2011, NineStar连接 has employed OFS 光缆 和 optical connectivity products exclusively, 安装1个以上,500 miles of 光缆, 和 investing $54 million in infrastructure. 他们的智能电网网络的“智能”依赖于OFS的高速和可靠性 光通信 为 权力, 电信甚至是创业园区和邻近的高科技玉米地.
根据 乔治Plisinksi, Manager of NineStar连接 Telecom Operations, “The co-op continues to invest in its fiber optic backbone, as communities dem和 a local, responsive alternative to national competitors. 根据 a recent study of the region, 光纤的可用性为高速宽带连接提供动力是经济发展的关键考虑因素.”
Adds Plisinksi, “Originally OFS only provided 光缆 to NineStar. 现在，我们的战略伙伴关系扩大了他们的作用，包括参与我们的商业战略. In terms of optical products, this includes microcables, 1×32 MPO分离器, AllWave®FLEX跳线, 绳索 和 FITEL®连接工具.”
“NineStar连接希望OFS能够预测增长并支持创新. This is truly a partnership, where we face real life issues. NineStar 和 OFS solve problems together评论说:“ 亚历克斯咀嚼, OFS Sales Manager 为 the Central U.S.
扭转下降
巴罗认为，农村地区人口的减少与年轻人上大学和回到原始的农村基础设施有关. “Today quality of life requires more than electricity. 我们发现，通过卓越的沟通，我们可以提高所有公用事业服务的质量. Otherwise, 为get about growth,” he says.
乔治Plisinski, Manager of Telecom Operations at NineStar连接 (left), 吉尔·斯奈德, Director of Business 和 Economic Development at NinesStar Connect. NineStar连接 will soon provide a 30,000 sq. ft. co-working facility 为 start-ups (behind them), 和 also a high-tech agricultural field of 17 acres, where fiber optics will support high yield crops, 和 innovative ideas 为 agriculture.
下水道 & 水情报
NineStar连接’s recent purchase of wet utilities, marrying them into the existing fiber optic network, was strategic 和 tactical. Now, automated water meter readings 和 monitoring 为 leaks are the norm. 根据Burrow的说法, 该合作社只是将已经到位的光纤网络捆绑在一起，以监控电力和通信服务. This change helped to reduce overhead 为 members of the co-op, allowing more capital 为 other innovations. Burrows says with confidence, “可靠的公共供水和下水道服务提高了财产价值和生活质量. 它还有助于政府和开发商更好地管理增长，并使社区对希望为该县带来高薪工作的企业更具吸引力.”
NineStar连接对客户提供的新服务以及为客户提供的新服务有着坚定的承诺，如下面的例子所示.
NEW MODEL FOR HEALTH CARE
“与传统的x光检查相比，核磁共振成像扫描由数千片数据组成，这是非常重要的 transmitted rapidly 和 precisely over our fiber optic network评论说:“ 史蒂夫长, President 和 CEO of Hancock Health 和 Hancock Regional Hospital. “在过去，几乎立即将MRI或CAT扫描结果发送到其他医院是不可想象的, physicians 和 specialists.”
长说, “Our hospital is in a trans为mative moment, moving services 和 quality care outside of the hospital. With our partner NineStar连接, 我们已经作出了在医院建设宽带网络的资金承诺, connecting us with our community 和, 事实上, 整个世界.”
持续长时间, “NineStar连接在为所有患者提供最佳护理方面发挥着关键作用. 光纤网络是构建一个完全不同的未来的无价基石.”
在医院里, 两个冗余的服务器机房允许将大量数据文件和视频发送到整个医院以及外部专家和合作伙伴. These rooms are considered to be the nerve center of the hospital. 这种能力可以通过NineStar连接庞大的印第安纳州中东部光纤网络实现远程医疗，并全天候监控.
BROADBAND DATA IRRIGATION
“我们即将推出的Idea Co-op将聪明的头脑和光纤的力量结合在一起，形成一个初创企业联合工作风格的校园. We are moving our non-IT related people to a new facility to make room!” 吉尔·斯奈德, Director of Business 和 Economic Development at NineStar连接.
“我们旁边的玉米地将成为新农业技术的实验室，包括地下到平流层的连接理念，用光纤和监测营养和湿度变化的传感器来“灌溉”. 无人机和自动驾驶汽车已经为先进农业奠定了基础，”她继续说道. Snyder notes that fiber to the farm is critical 为 the next generation. 而大数据, including aerials of entire acreages, will help to minimize spraying, 与光纤连接的地面传感器将引导人们关注需要营养的植物. Less fertilizer means less runoff into the creeks 和 less pollution. “Fiber optics are vital to increasing yield,” Snyder states.
未来的农村vs. 过时的
农村居民的网速与大城市居民相当或更快. Movies 和 videos function without interruption. Communications connectivity 为 homes continues to skyrocket in usage, including video 为 phone conferences, data 和 streaming entertainment. 有了NineStar连接提供的OFS光纤，未来已经到位. 从现在开始的5到10年后，计算机和软件将已经具备支持额外带宽需求的基础设施.
指出Plisinki, “有时简单, practical innovations are essential to high-level technology delivery. AllWave FLEX Zero Water Peak (ZWP) Bend-Insensitive Fiber from OFS is one good example, as it ensures premium per为mance, even when exposed to water 和 subjected to bends.”
事实上, 在标准单模光纤中，光信号的衰减或损耗根本不会发生. 无缝拼接 FITEL熔接器 can be done everywhere from 长期 到更短的范围 在建 应用程序.
电力安全第一
对于在NineStar连接的电力公用事业部门工作的线路工人来说，安全性得到了极大的提高. 他们的光纤网络允许在停电时进行集中控制和故障隔离, 它还允许线路工人直接向停电地点报告，开始恢复工作. 同时, 光纤供电的配电设备迅速从远处切换到尽可能多的家庭和企业.
“纤维是最好的选择. Line crews don’t want to rely on wireless frequency. Direct connection is safer 和 more efficient,杰米·贝尔说。, NineStar连接 Director of Engineering.
Bell继续说道:“我们的SCADA系统与我们的光纤网络集成在一起，可以自我修复. 中断被最小化，我们能够如此迅速地缩小问题范围，以至于我们的客户很少遇到不便.”
OFS 光纤电缆 at NineStar连接
- 1家独家供应商,500 miles of 单模 和 多模 光缆, including 外面的工厂 (百), 室内电缆. 加固的 跳投, 紧凑的橱柜 和 补丁面板 整个系统
- Microcables from OFS including MiDia®FX PLUS电缆, 最小直径电缆
- 跳投
- FITEL fusion splicing machines
- 全波零水峰 (ZWP) full- spectrum, 单模 optical fiber; using different wavelengths
- AllWave FLEX bend-insensitive fiber so the signal is not lost
- BIF (bend-insensitive纤维). NineStar was an early adopter. 更简单
- 1×32 MPO分离器 为 Passive Optical Networks (PON)
- 1×8 MPO fanouts
- 432-fiber Fiber Distribution Hubs (外籍家庭橱柜)
- Preterminated fiber optic shelves
Various types of OFS fiber are used 为 单模 应用程序 in 外面的工厂 (百)及室内(前提,企业)应用程序. High b和width OM3, OM4 和 OM5 graded-index 多模 optical fibers are designed to support a wide range of short-reach, VCSEL-based 局域网, 中心办公室 和 数据中心 应用程序.
