Shentel plans broadband expansion in Cape Region
A new company with a strong broadband presence in Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia is coming to the Cape Region.
Shenandoah Cable Television LLC (Shentel) has signed a lease for a 1,520-square-foot parcel behind Sussex County EMS Station 104 along Plantation Road between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach to construct a building to house communications and information technology equipment.
Dwayne Kilgo, Sussex County's director of information technology, said the county has been reaching out to expand broadband to rural areas in the county the past five years.
He said several providers have joined in on the initative. County partners have signed up nearly 200 broadband customers so far.
“Shenandoah will be bankrolling their own operation,” he said. The company has more than 8,000 miles of fiber in its network. The lease for the land is $6,000 per year.
Shentel engineer Danny Agee said the fiber-based system will serve homes with speeds up to 5 GB and businesses with higher speeds as needed. “We are investing a lot of money to be competitive offering broadband in Delaware,” he said.
Agee said construction should be completed in early summer, with fiber installation starting during the third quarter of the year.
Councilman John Rieley said broadband service is needed in many rural areas in the county. “Will you be getting to the back roads?” he asked.
“We will build out first and break out from there,” Agee said.
Founded in 1902, Shentel is a diversified telecommunications company providing internet and data services, local exchange telephone services, video, long-distance services and leased tower facilities.
Under the Glo Fiber brand, Shentel offers fiber optic broadband services to business and residential customers.
Under the Shentel brand, the company offers video, data and regulated and unregulated voice services through the cable network, as well as DSL internet access in some areas.
Under the Beam Internet brand, Shentel offers fixed wireless internet service using existing cell towers in the network.
