How Fiber Internet Can Transform State and Local Agencies
As state and local agency offerings become more diverse, they need a digital infrastructure that can help them serve their constituencies. Traditional internet service often falls short of providing agencies with the necessary connectivity and data transfer capabilities. Fiber internet has emerged as a cutting-edge solution to bridge the gap between the services the public and state and local agencies can provide.
Superior Speed and Bandwidth
Whether it’s video, audio, details specifications, or live conferencing, handling large-scale data transfers to multiple users requires high-speed, high-bandwidth connections. Fiber internet makes these possible because it uses light signals instead of electrical pulses, making it possible to transfer large amounts of data in a short period of time.
For government agencies, this is especially important because the documents they send and give users access to have to move quickly in order to prevent service interruptions and even significant safety problems.
Scalability to Meet Future Demands
Fiber internet gives a government agency the freedom to scale however decision-makers see fit because it is capable of transmitting data at incredibly high speeds. As a result, a government agency can quickly scale its internet service up or down in response to increased user demands. In addition, a state or local government can set up a fiber optic infrastructure that can handle drastic fluctuations in demand without needing additional equipment.
Improved Security Measures
Government agencies are often responsible for some of the most sensitive data the public has, and fiber internet’s security features make it easier to keep this out of the hands of attackers.
For example, a fiber optic network can include encryption protocols that disguise data as it moves through the network and while it’s being stored on devices in the network. This makes the data useless for an attacker, even if they’re able to steal it.
Cost Efficiency in the Long Run
Over time, fiber optic internet provides a government agency with a handsome return on investment because it’s both stable and secure. The durability of fiber internet reduces the cost of maintenance, as well as the risk of having to hire professionals to perform expensive repairs.
Since fiber internet has advanced security features, the chances of an expensive breach are greatly reduced. As time passes, this can significantly contribute to the value of your fiber investment.
Supporting Smart City Initiatives
Smart city initiatives often depend on connectivity between IoT devices and remote servers, and the speed and stability of fiber internet makes it easier to ensure reliable connections. Also, if a government agency decides to add more smart city services in the future, the process will be more straightforward if they’ve already laid the groundwork with a fiber optic infrastructure.
For instance, if an agency decided to establish a responsive, real time energy management system for charging electric vehicles fiber optic infrastructure gives them the means to instantly handle vast amounts of vehicle and electrical power data.
Facilitating Remote Work and Services
Using fiber internet, remote workers can collaborate through the cloud, enjoy high-quality video conferencing, and send large files from home or elsewhere. At the same time, fiber also provides similar capabilities to government agencies that need to make online services available to the public. Users can access videos, high-resolution images, and large documents without having to worry about communication dropouts hindering their workflows.
Boosting Public Engagement and Transparency
Since fiber internet makes it possible to host real time interactions between government agencies and their constituents, it can go along way towards encouraging engagement and transparency.
For example, a local government may choose to stream a meeting they hold regarding whether or not to approve the construction of a large shopping mall. By providing the public with access to the meeting via the internet, officials demonstrate a willingness to be open about their intentions and how these may impact the people they serve.
Enhancing Inter-Agency Collaboration
Government agencies often have data and information that exists in silos. By using fiber internet, different agencies and departments can exchange data in real time, reducing the risk of miscommunications and making it easier to make data-informed decisions.
For instance, police departments on different sides of the same state can instantly share information about suspects, the crimes they’ve committed, and the level of risk they may pose.
Environmental Sustainability
It takes less energy to send data through fiber optic cables because you’re using the principle of total reflection as opposed to using electricity to pull a signal through a metal wire. As a signal travels through a copper wire, it degrades, which makes it necessary to use more energy to make sure it’s still usable by the time it reaches its destination. With fiber, this kind of signal attenuation is much less of a problem. Therefore, fiber internet can significantly reduce a government agency’s carbon footprint.
Reduced Operational Complexity
When you establish a fiber optic infrastructure that unifies disparate elements of a government agency, you set up a simplified system that takes less effort to maintain.
This means your IT staff can focus their energies on helping the agency meet its goals instead of constantly troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Higher Data Capacity
Fiber’s ability to handle higher data workloads makes it an ideal solution for government agencies, especially those that need to take advantage of big data. The high data capacity of fiber makes it especially useful for artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. As they transact huge amount of data to help agencies make decisions, the high bandwidth of fiber eliminates potential bottlenecks.
Better Quality of Service (QoS) Controls
For government agencies, especially when the safety of the public is involved, not all internet traffic can be treated equally. By using fiber internet, you can decide which kinds of traffic you will prioritize in your system. As a result, you have the freedom to allocate more bandwidth for critical applications, such as emergency management systems.
Longevity and Future Compatibility
The increased data handling capacity of fiber internet makes it a viable long-term solution for governments that need the freedom to implement emerging technologies as time passes. For example, if a transportation agency wanted to implement a real time traffic monitoring solution, the high data capacity of fiber internet gives them the infrastructure they need.
Enabling Geographic Expansion of Services
Government agencies that use fiber internet to provide connectivity to remote areas make it easier for all citizens to take advantage of the online services they offer. For example, by introducing fiber internet to a rural area, a local government can make it possible for students to take advantage of real-time remote learning solutions.
Support for Mobile and Field Operations
Time is often of the essence as mobile and field operations have to communicate with and send data to government agencies. With fiber internet, data can move seamlessly between mobile employees and government offices. In addition to facilitating the smooth sharing of information, this also set the stage for the efficient management of mobile and field operators.
Increased Resilience to Disruptions
The systems that government agencies establish need to be as resilient to disruptions as possible, making fiber internet an ideal match. Because light signals can move through fiber optic cabling without being disturbed by electromagnetic forces, the system is significantly more resistant to disruptions. This results in an infrastructure that both the government and citizens can rely on.
Use Fiber Internet to Better Serve the Public
Fiber internet enables fast, reliable data transfers that can serve as the foundation for dependable communications infrastructure. For government agencies who often have the safety of the public in their hands, the stability and performance of fiber internet can make a tangible difference.
Reach out to Cox Business to better understand the strategic importance of upgrading to fiber for operational excellence and future readiness.
