BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (August 14, 2008) — Indiana University students living in the Campus Walk Apartments will now be able to utilize online social networking, download movies and music, post blogs, podcasts and wikis without the network delay that is common with largely populated college residences.

Smithville Digital, an affiliate of Smithville—Indiana’s largest privately held telecommunications company—and Jest Technology—Campus Walk’s Internet provider—recently closed a deal to build a purely fiber-optic network and provide high-speed fiber broadband connectivity to the complexes. Unlike a traditional DSL or cable connection, Smithville’s fiber-optic network will provide Indiana University students with speeds of approximately 25 Mbps through an all-fiber technology platform. The fiber-to-the-premise technology has become necessary to support the multifaceted digital appetites of this technology-savvy generation.

“With the rise of social media and the sheer magnitude of bandwidth being used today for anything from distance learning and teleconferencing to operating home-based businesses, fiber-optic broadband connectivity is no longer optional,” said Smithville Digital President Cullen McCarty. “Smithville Digital is dedicated to fostering high-speed connectivity wherever there exists a need.”

Smithville Digital will extend its high-speed fiber-optic platform to reach the 25 student apartment buildings—a total of 780 units. The fiber optic network will provide residents with a much faster and more reliable Internet connection than DSL or cable connection, which is the traditional method of supplying residential service.

With average speeds of around 1.5 mbps, DSL connections often have lag times and service interruptions, in addition to limited download and upload capabilities, especially in highly populated student housing complexes like Campus Walk Apartments. Smithville Digital will use six fiber connections to link the multi-site housing complexes in several locations around Bloomington. Now, Indiana University students will benefit from speeds of approximately 25 Mbps through an all-fiber technology platform well suited to tech savvy college students.

“We’re one of the only fiber providers serving cities, counties and businesses with direct fiber-optic network connections that will also lay pipe and fiber, handle construction services and anything additional our customers need. We’re an Indiana company that does it all, which differentiates us from the competition,” said McCarty.

Smithville Digital currently provides fiber-optic broadband services throughout the state to Indiana companies, cities and technology parks such as; Cook Inc., Bloomington Hospital, Monroe County Schools, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Purdue Research Park, WestGate @ Crane Technology Park, EG&G Inc., City of Bloomington, Columbus Regional Hospital, IVY Tech campuses and many other organizations.

Smithville Digital continues to expand its fiber-optic services to all areas of the state with the goal of providing clients with high-speed state-of-the-art fiber optic connectivity.

About Smithville Digital
Smithville Digital was formed in 2003 to offer the highest technological services for businesses and networking throughout the state of Indiana. Smithville Digital provides a fiber-optic means of digital data transmission to its customers. Fiber-optic technology allows for “last mile” connectivity as well as network management solutions to help customers meet their data transmission needs. For more information about Smithville Digital visit Smithville Digital.

Smithville Digital was formed as a spin-off of Smithville Telephone Company. Founded in 1922, Smithville Telephone has grown to be Indiana’s largest independent telecom company. Smithville Telephone Company has expanded its services to include Smithville Digital as well as DSL services. The headquarters are located in Ellettsville, Ind. For more information please visit Smithville.