Originally published at Arkansas Money and Politics.
No one can deny that the internet touches every aspect of daily living, whether it be working from home, telemedicine, virtual education, accessing vital services or simple streaming and entertainment. According to marketing research company Nielsen, 3.4 billion people surf the internet every day and spend an average of 6.5 hours online. Pew Research Center found that “31 percent of U.S. adults now report that they go online ‘almost constantly,’ up from 21 percent in 2015.”
Despite the obvious need for quality internet, many areas still lack the basic infrastructure required to keep residents connected, or their options are limited to outdated cable or satellite providers. In some cases, slow or unreliable internet can be worse than no internet at all.
Fiber internet provider HyperFiber has moved into Arkansas to close those gaps and give communities a choice when it comes to fulfilling their connectivity needs. Rather than packages and bundles that can be more confusing than convenient, HyperFiber focuses on providing a simple product — unmatched high-speed fiber internet — at a simple price.
“We recognize the significance of the era that we’re in right now, where innovation and connectivity really are shaping our future,” said HyperFiber Director of Markets Lori Haight. “Everything in the home can be connected, and the technology is making it easier for everyone to understand how to use it, but the core of that technology has got to be a reliable connection, and fiber is going to be your most reliable connection.”
Unlike traditional cable connections and satellite internet, fiber optic internet uses pulses of light to transmit data through hair-thin strands of glass or plastic, enabling unrivaled speed and bandwidth for lag-free performance. Fiber also has the advantage when it comes to symmetrical speed, meaning that both downloads and uploads are fast enough for those working from home or running an online business. While traditional providers have slowly come around to the idea of upgrading their networks, HyperFiber’s streamlined approach allows the company to offer improved connectivity more quickly and seamlessly than its competitors.
“We’ve worked hard to cut through all the noise and clutter of all the other internet and cable companies,” Haight said. “Our business model is to build where there is not a fiber to the home option. It’s going to be a dedicated connection to your home, and you have three packages to choose from — no data caps, no contracts, no equipment fees, no installation, no taxes. Everything’s included in that price.”
With HyperFiber’s “Gig for Life” plan, a customer’s price will never change for as long as they remain with HyperFiber. That reliability speaks to the company’s commitment to service in more ways than one. HyperFiber does not simply install fiber infrastructure and leave; the company works to be a true partner with the communities it serves.
“We have an immersive community experience. People like me go in and meet the decision makers of the community and also with the chamber of commerce and those that are influencers,” Haight said. “We want to know where their need is. Do you have fiber to the home now? What areas need it? Where can we be most helpful to you?”
HyperFiber supports customers through every step of their fiber internet experience, and HyperFiber employees often live and work in the very communities they serve. Technicians are available to help set up streaming devices and offer technical support for any issues. The company’s Green Team works with residents to mitigate the effects of installation, providing restoration services after construction.
“Our promise to communities is that we’re going to leave their yards as good or better than we found them,” said Haight.
Education is another huge part of HyperFiber’s work, and the company partners with homeowners associations and real estate agents to help explain to residents the long-term benefits of fiber. On average, a fiber-to-the-home connection will increase the home value by slightly more than 4 percent, Haight said. Since most of the infrastructure itself is buried underground, fiber is also a more resilient option in the face of extreme weather conditions, especially for customers in the South.
“We take an area, and we field it. We knock on doors. We talk to people and make sure that there’s definitely an interest and explain to them the difference,” Haight said. “Many people have suffered with the pain of the packages and the service that they’ve had, and they don’t know how much better it can be.”