Like other operators, Cable One’s Sparklight is preparing for the forthcoming rollout of DOCSIS 4.0. This month, it plans to embark on a $12 million network upgrade in Sioux City, Iowa.
Sparklight said the infrastructure upgrades, expected to be completed by fall 2023, aim to increase upload and download speeds, improve connections in multi-device homes as well as provide more bandwidth for streaming and gaming. The provider has offered gigabit service to Sioux City customers since 2016.
“For 40 years, Sparklight has been a proud supporter of Sioux City and this latest investment exemplifies our on-going commitment,” said Mike Drahota, general manager at Sparklight Sioux City, in a statement. “Looking to the future, we are laying the groundwork for 10 Gigabit speeds and investing in a new era of innovation that will not only further enrich the lives of our customers but contribute to the economic development of Sioux City.”
Iowa isn’t the only state where Sparklight is pursuing network upgrades. The provider is undertaking a $10 million project in Rio Rancho, New Mexico that’s expected to finish sometime this spring.
Sparklight in the past year has also invested in upgrades across nine Missouri cities – including a $17 million project in Kirksville, Missouri – as well as $5.6 million for its network in southeast Kansas.
The Sioux City announcement comes after Cable One touted year-over-year uptake in its 500 Mbps and 1-gig service tiers. Earlier this month, CEO Julie Laulis said Cable One sees “substantial opportunity to continue upselling our current customer base.”
As for DOCSIS 4.0, the operator hasn’t disclosed whether it plans to use a full duplex (FDX) or extended spectrum deployment method. However, it expects network enhancements to cost around $200 per passing.
Cable competitor Comcast has also indicated it will spend $200 per passing to upgrade its network to a mid-split architecture. Whereas Charter is targeting $100 per passing for its DOCSIS 4.0 rollout.