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Liberty VI announced Friday that it is kicking off its fixed fiber network construction process in Sally’s Fancy, St. Croix beginning Tuesday, January 31. The project, which will take approximately three weeks to complete, will benefit all customers along Lowry Hill Road in the Sally’s Fancy area.
According to a release from Liberty, as part of the company's participation in the Federal Communications Commission’s Connect USVI initiative, this project will use the company’s Fiber-to-the Home standard to increase bandwidth capacity for high-speed data demand. Once completed, Liberty will deliver a fixed fiber network with more resiliency, redundancy and improved performance.
“This is just the beginning of a large project that, upon completion, will bring true broadband connectivity to the USVI to facilitate economic growth in the territory. The work will also enable us to deliver fiber to a much-needed wireless tower to increase capacity and coverage, plus added capabilities to local first responders,” said Bala Balakrishnan, general manager of Liberty VI. “We are working on rapidly increasing the number of homes and businesses that can get fiber, as soon as we can get the necessary permits.”
Liberty said the work that will take place in the Sally’s Fancy area includes burying underground conduits and fiber optic cable starting at the intersection of East End Road and Lowry Hill Road. Construction will take place weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details will be available at the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works’ website https://dpw.vi.gov/.
Burying the fiber cables increases the network’s resiliency while protecting it from hazards such as natural disasters and vandalism attempts, the company said. The work also uses a micro-trenching technique, which produces a 1 ¾ -inch cut and uses existing ducts where possible, thus diminishing pavement breakage and dust emission significantly.
These jobs will be performed with minimal traffic impact, Liberty said. However, drivers should expect delays due to lane and partial road closures and must exercise caution when traveling in these locations. Residents and business owners in these communities should park their vehicles in their properties and not on the street to avoid obstructions or possible damages.
Liberty said it will be providing updates on its website https://www.libertyvi.com/news and other media on when and where the company will be working around the territory so people can plan their daily commutes ahead of time.
