Sertex Completes Fiberspring FTTH Deployment

Municipal utility network built in partnership with South Hadley Electric Light Department

Thanks to the hard work and commitment of Sertex crews, 2,400 underserved and unserved homes, businesses, and municipal entities, including schools and town departments in South Hadley, Massachusetts, are now enjoying gig-speed internet as customers of the municipally-owned Fiberspring fiber optic network.

The South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD) is a municipal utility that provides reliable, affordable public power to South Hadley homes and businesses. Since 2020, SHELD also powers the Fiberspring fiber optic network, built out by “fiberhoods” over four years. In March 2024, SHELD announced that the network was fully constructed and that all customers requesting gig-speed fiber service had been connected.

The Fiberspring network construction launched at a very challenging time, just months before the pandemic made life more challenging throughout the U.S. For their role in the fiber deployment, Sertex was awarded two construction contracts.

• The first contract covered outside plant construction of the 32 fiberhoods, also known as fiber service areas. This phase of construction included aerial fiber distribution, underground conduit and cable installation, and fiber optic splicing and testing services.
• Sertex’s second contract with SHELD involved drop installations to homes throughout the community and included aerial/UG drop installation from the MST to the residence, and interior custom installation of electronics.

Happy Customers

Homeowners reported great satisfaction with the work of Sertex crews. One customer reported, “I wanted to drop you all a line to say how excellent the service was, and how efficient, tidy, and precise the installation work was. In addition, the technician was extremely patient when answering questions, walking me through the process step by step. The technician even provided me with information on Wi-Fi boosters should I find I need them for better coverage. All in all, exemplary service from a real professional.”