Cox Communications and US Ignite today designated Las Vegas as the newest US Ignite Smart Gigabit Community (SGC).
US Ignite’s SGC program is creating “living lab” environments for the next generation of gigabit applications. Las Vegas is the 25th community designated as an SGC. The designation is designed to facilitate collaboration among US Ignite, universities, municipalities, community anchor institutions like hospitals and schools, nonprofits, network carriers and ISPs.
Together, these organizations are focused on developing smart gigabit applications that can address local community needs, such as education, workforce development, public safety and community health. Each community joining the network has made a significant commitment toward embracing next-generation smart city and Internet technologies to keep pace with the world’s rapidly changing technology and economy. Additionally, each member of the program has committed to develop two gigabit applications or gigabit services per year that provide advanced technology solutions to issues faced by that community. Members also agree to share those applications with the others in the Smart Gigabit Communities program.
Cox Communications has been the only private business to sponsor multiple communities to participate in the program. Las Vegas is the third Smart Gigabit Community funded by Cox Communications in the past two years. Phoenix was named as a Smart Gigabit Community funded by Cox in 2016 and San Diego was named in 2017.
“Many communities are in search of ways to position themselves as technology drivers and innovation leaders in economic development and quality of life for their residents,” said Michael Bolognini, vice president and market leader of Cox Communications in Las Vegas, in a prepared statement.
Cox has been steadily building out its network infrastructure in Las Vegas for the last 20 years, offering multi-gig speeds to commercial customers for more than a decade.
