Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Access to high speed internet has been challenging for East Buffalo residents for years. Now, for the first time, there's competition between providers offering service in that part of Buffalo.
Greenlight Networks is expanding into East Buffalo.
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"We've just completed connecting a thousand homes on the East side and we expect to get to another thousand by year's end," said Greenlight CEO Mark Murphy. He said it completes a $2 million investment in East Buffalo this year.
Greenlight has been in business for 12 years. It's based in Rochester. In addition to the build-out in East Buffalo, construction is underway on nearly 6,000 homes in North Tonawanda, West Buffalo, Cheektowaga and Buffalo's Elmwood Village.
"Everything that we're doing is brand new and all of our own. It's a brand new
fiber network. We're not using existing equipment. In the Cold Springs area that we just completed, we worked with National Grid and Verizon to make sure the poles were safe. We had to replace a bunch of them. We also had to do tree trimming."
Urban areas pose other challenges as well including fences and gates that block access.
Murphy said installation from a customer standpoint is relatively simple once the fiber is in place. "Once we schedule the installation it usually takes less than an hour."
Greenlight offers a base product of 500 Mb for $50 a month. The company has been participating in the early connectivity program. For that reason, people who receive assistance or are receiving a pell grant are eligible to get $30 off that bill. In addition they get $100 dollars off a device, either a computer or another device that connects with the internet.