Business View - February 2016 9
“In 2012, the City of Wichita’s IT Department worked
with SiFi Networks to implement a proof of concept
in utilizing fiber connectivity through our existing
storm or sewer conduits. Fiber was placed between
a public works facility (where the city had existing
fiber) and a police sub-station with additional con-
nection to a public works water center close by. City
IT has not touched this network in over three years
since implementation,” commented Michael Mayta,
Chief Information Officer for the City of Wichita.
“After review, public works confirmed that there
were no negative ef-
fects on any conduits
utilized and our water
and police sub-station
have benefited from
the throughput of a
GIG network. The ROI
for this project was
just over four years, so
in late 2016 the project
will “pay out” and the
City will begin to real-
ize monthly savings,”
added Mayta.
SiFi Network’s technologies have been utilized to
deploy cell tower backhaul, point to point fiber con-
nection, and metro rings to support last mile net-
works, allowing for greater flexibility in the network
design and deployment.
The company has also developed a suite of tech-
nologies and construction methods to create a fully
warranted last mile (FTTH) system called FOCUS.
Primarily, SiFi Networks is using this within their
FiberCity™ solution in which they invest in the in-
frastructure, and operate and maintain the fiber and
electronics wholesaling access to municipalities or
internet service providers who sell their internet, TV,
and other services to the residents and businesses
within the city.
“Our wastewater technology lends itself well to
the more challenging areas of the build such as rail-
roads, lakes, and business parks within the wider
network where there are very few dwellings” said
Jim McBride, Head of Technical Counsel for SiFi
Networks. “Using this technology combined with
the traditional techniques ensures a cost-effective
and fast deployment while creating a highly secure
network,” he added.
With continuing growth in demand for fiber to cell
towers, WFT opens up new opportunities to expe-
dite 4G and 5G deployments. Its applications have
been tried and tested over the last decade in the
USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Austra-
lia. SiFi Networks’ WFT has been heavily utilized
for fiber to the cell tower deployments, significantly
reducing capital expenditure and time-to-deploy for
hundreds of miles of fiber to cell sites across South
Africa.
