CapeNet Doubles WHOI’s Broadband Capacity

WOODS HOLE – The high speed broadband capabilities at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute have doubled now that the organization has switched primary providers.

Local company CapeNet, which supplies service over the OpenCape fiber optic network, has expanded broadband capacity at WHOI from one to two gigabits with the ability to expand to 10 gigabits at any time.

CapeNet President and CEO Alan Davis says the broadband upgrade is critical for WHOI.

“Their ability to share information quickly enables them to be more competitive with regard to obtaining grants, which is their lifeline, which obviously means more jobs on the Cape,” he said.

To become the primary broadband provider for WHOI, CapeNet did have to install additional equipment in Boston, Providence and throughout the research campus.

“It was actually quite a substantial undertaking in order to expand their capabilities,” Davis said.

CapeNet had previously provided 100 megabits to WHOI, who had expressed an interest to increase broadband to a much larger capacity.

“We asked them if could bid on the increased capacity and they said, ‘Sure. We would welcome that,’” Davis said.

CapeNet provides high speed broadband throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and to every town on the Cape, including data-intensive businesses, municipal buildings, libraries, three colleges, 10 high schools, Joint Base Cape Cod and six research institutions.

The company is continuing expand services to educational institutions on the Cape.

“We hope and expect that by the end of this year, certainly no later than next year, that we will actually be the primary provider of all the high schools on Cape Cod if not the middle schools and elementary schools as well,” Davis said.

CapeNet is also in the process of connecting their network to 59 AT&T cell towers on the Cape which would increase the reception and coverage for residents and visitors who are AT&T wireless customers.

OpenCape is a 470-mile fiber-optic network and integrated data center that was built and is operated to advance the economic, social and public safety interests of the communities of southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, the South Coast, and South Shore.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter