Bell Atlantic to Deploy Fiber Optics, New Equipment Bringing Advanced Technology, Services To Hellertown Area

Full Transparency

Our editorial transparency tool uses blockchain technology to permanently log all changes made to official releases after publication.

More of our content is being permanently logged via blockchain technology starting [10.23.2020].

Learn more

Bell Atlantic to Deploy Fiber Optics, New Equipment Bringing Advanced Technology, Services
To Hellertown Area

Company Investing $400,000 to Expand, Upgrade
Local Telephone Network

April 20,1999

Media
contact:

Ells Edwards,
302-576-5340
Sharon Shaffer,
215-963-6200

HELLERTOWN, Pa. -- Bell Atlantic will soon install a new fiber-optic
cable and associated electronic equipment in the community of Leithsville,
near Hellertown, as part of a $400,000 project to upgrade the local
telephone network and provide advanced telecommunications services to
its customers.

A new cable containing 24 fibers will serve a new fiber optic terminal,
which will operate as a satellite unit of the Hellertown telephone office.
Hellertown is located about five miles south of Bethlehem. Construction
is expected to begin in a few days.

This new technology will allow Bell Atlantic to expand its ability to offer
advanced high-speed data services and provides additional reliability and
survivability in the Bell Atlantic network. Fiber-optic systems use hair-
thin glass fibers and digital technology to deliver high quality telephone
service along with high-capacity/high-speed voice and data transmission
services.

"This project is the latest evidence that Bell Atlantic is meeting our
commitment to deliver a state-of-the-art telecommunications network
throughout Pennsylvania," said Daniel J. Whelan, president of Bell
Atlantic - Pennsylvania. "We are accelerating our construction schedules
to provide rural and urban customers with high-speed access to the
Internet, work-at-home capabilities, as well as a host of other innovative
advanced services."

Whelan said Bell Atlantic has made major strides in deploying advanced
technology in its network:

  • Annual spending on the Pennsylvania network nearly doubled
    from $539 million in 1995 to more than $961 million in 1998.

  • Miles of fiber-optic cable in the commonwealth increased by 66
    percent from 474,450 in 1995 to 786,106 at the end of 1998.

  • Percentage of digital call-routing switches has grown from 90.3
    percent in 1995 to 96 percent at the end of 1998.

  • Bell Atlantic Infospeedsm DSL was launched in Pennsylvania last
    fall. Infospeed DSL is a high-speed, always-on Internet access
    services which enables consumers to connect to cyberspace at
    speeds up to 100 times faster than today's fastest analog modems.

"Bell Atlantic is keeping its promises to Pennsylvania," Whelan said.
"We are building and enhancing a public telecommunications network in
Pennsylvania that is the finest in the world and is a vital part of the
commonwealth's economic infrastructure."

In addition to deploying the latest technology, Bell Atlantic has spent tens
of millions of dollars to open Pennsylvania's local telephone market to
competition.

"We have irreversibly opened our markets to competition," Whelan said.
"We can't force the long distance giants or anyone else to compete here,
but anyone who genuinely wants to enter our markets can do so."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight
million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.

Related Articles

02/15/2021

Virtual Reality (VR) has begun to transform medicine in profound ways. VR solutions are being used to train doctors and to plan and practice operations.

10/23/2020

Verizon’s military discounts site shows everything you need to know about Wireless offers, FiOS savings and military career opportunities, all in one place, making it simple for service members and veterans to discover what Verizon has to offer.