BROOKHAVEN — Home Seekers Paradise will soon be home to the “faster than the national average,” internet speeds according to C Spire. Internet upgrades will serve 4,000 homes in Brookhaven thanks to nearly 100 miles of fiber connecting to residential homes which will offer additional television and related home phone services.

C Spire reports the new fiber will provide 1,000 mega bytes per second, 1 gig, and the speeds will increase to 8 gigs in the future. Customers will have a choice in the speed plans they want.

Fiber hoods will start in early June and activations will begin in early September. Jake Cowen, senior vice president and general manager for C Spire, said in a press release the service upgrades are part of a commitment to Brookhaven. C Spire has served the community since 1991. 

““This ultrafast fiber service is transformative for the Brookhaven community, serving as a platform for innovation and catalyst for technology, investment, economic growth and job creation,” Cowen said. “We are excited to offer residents the benefits of fiber and are deeply committed to continually enhancing our network to deliver the fastest speeds, equipping customers for the future.”

C Spire claims it is the nation’s largest privately-owned mobile services firm and sixth largest in the U.S. Fiber service is being launched in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.  Mississippi cities include: the greater Jackson area, Biloxi, Clarksdale, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Oxford, Starkville, Tupelo, Vicksburg, and Yazoo City.

Garrick Combs, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said in a press release the upgrades will add to the quality of life in Brookhaven. Education, business, entertainment and home security systems all rely on internet connectivity. 

“We could not be more pleased and excited about C Spire’s investment in Brookhaven. Fast, reliable internet service is foundational for continued growth and prosperity in any community. It is an essential part of everyday life,” Garrick Combs said. “For the City of Brookhaven and our citizens to be able to partner with a leading-edge technology company that was also born in Southwest Mississippi to provide fiber to the home is an exciting opportunity for our community to continue to grow, attract families to Brookhaven, and increase our quality of life.”

He said in the early 2000’s Linbrook was constructed with fiber conduits but C-Spires upgrades are offering residential customers a fiber line directly into their home. 

“This is a good opportunity for our Brookhaven residents to receive a dedicated fiber line. I am personally excited about it,” Combs said. 

Average internet speed nationwide according to a study on highspeedinternet.com is 99.3 megabytes per second. Mississippi’s average internet speed was at 94.4 mbps in 2022  which means the state is 34th in the nation. In 2021, Mississippi’s average was 74.3 mbps and in 2020 the average speed was 37.9 mbps. 

Bill Jacobs, former publisher of The Daily Leader, said in a press release “It is an exciting new day in Brookhaven,” with the announcement of internet upgrades by C Spire. He serves on the Mississippi State Board of Education. Brookhaven School District and Lincoln County School District use C Spire through a state contract. 

Homeowners can order residential fiber in the Brookhaven area this week, and residents can sign-up at (www.cspire.com/fiber). To learn more about multi-gig fiber plans, visit www.cspire.com/fiber.