DE Fastlink is a subsidiary of Dixie Electric that is committed to innovative technology and providing the membership with the latest products and services.
We are building a fiber-to-the-home network that brings fiber directly into homes and businesses and delivers reliable, high-speed internet services. Offering high-speed internet services is a new business venture for us, and it’s full of unfamiliar business practices, technology and equipment. However, we promise our members that our product is reliable and affordable.
High Speed Internet Pilot Project
The coronavirus pandemic exposed the lack of truly high-speed internet services across our state as Mississippians have been forced to shelter in place at home. Dixie Electric and other electric power associations saw the need to bring internet services to rural areas of our state. The Mississippi legislature approved $65 million in grant funding from the CARES stimulus funds, and 15 electric cooperatives submitted grant applications, that included plans for small-scale projects, for a portion of this funding. Until 2019, Mississippi state laws did not allow electric cooperatives to provide internet service.
Dixie Electric’s pilot project areas are separated into two phases. The complete pilot project is approximately 206 miles of fiber optic cable to be installed roughly from Ovett southeast down Highway 15 towards the Good Hope community and down Highway 29 through Runnelstown and across east on Highway 42. There is a map included providing specific details on the roads or communities that are included.
The area chosen for the pilot project was based on three criteria, which were either outlined in the grant application or are best practices for designing the fiber optic system:
1. The area must be defined as an un- or underserved census block for high-speed internet service by the Federal Communications Commission;
2. The project ideally would include more than one county;
3. The fiber build-out for the project needs to be built in one electric substation area.
The area chosen for this pilot project met these criteria.
Visit the Preregistration page to preregister for service. Once you've completed this step, we will notify you once service is available in your area. Be sure to provide us with good contact information.
High Speed Internet Guide
The expansion into other areas cannot be decided until the pilot project nears a successful completion, which will be in early 2021.
Aerial fiber to the home (FTTH) high-speed fiber-optic network has been constructed on Dixie Electric’s existing electric distribution infrastructure and will be physically connected to your home or business. We consider this network to be the most future-proof technology available.
A fiber optic network consists of long, thin strands of glass arranged in an insulated cable and each optical fiber has the ability to transmit data in light waves with great bandwidth. Fiber transmits data faster over longer distances than copper and with less signal degradation and no latency issues.
Network speeds of 100 megabits per second (MBPS) to 1,000 MBPS (gigabit service) are available. A megabit is the download rate of an internet connection. Gigabit service is 200X the typical DSL download speed. Dixie Electric’s internet service will be symmetrical meaning that the upload speed will be the same as the download speed. If you subscribe to the 100 MBPS service, then you will get that speed whether downloading or uploading. Packages and pricing can be found here.
Under the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, Dixie Electric must provide this internet service through an operating subsidiary that is separate from Dixie Electric. Dixie Electric formed DE Fastlink, LLC as a subsidiary to provide this service in September 2020.
Dixie Electric is studying its pricing strategy, but the goal is to provide the services at a reasonable price that recovers costs plus a reasonable rate of return. An announcement will be made when pricing information is available.
There are no data caps with our service!
No. Under the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, an electric cooperative cannot use energy sales revenue to subsidize broadband services. Fiber deployment will not affect electric rates. Dixie Electric and DE Fastlink are separate organizations and all costs and revenues are separate.
Broadband high-speed internet provides multiple benefits, including improved opportunities for economic development, telemedicine and distance learning in rural areas.
Broadband commonly refers to high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than any other type of internet service. Broadband fiber-optic networks can deliver voice, data, video and email services over the internet.
Once you sign up for service and it becomes available in your area, an installation is scheduled. Fiber installation is simple and non-invasive. We pull fiber from our main lines and follow power lines to attach the fiber to your home or business. The fiber will run to your home or business in the same manner power lines run to your home or business. If your electric service comes from overhead lines, so will your broadband service. If your electric service comes from underground lines, so will your broadband service. Next, we attach the fiber line to a box near your electric meter where the inside wiring connects with the outside wiring. Finally, the fiber is connected to a fiber jack inside your home or office, where it’s plugged into the modem we provide.
Construction crews pulling and hanging the fiber and taking it to your home’s outside wiring are preparing the network to go live once construction in the area is complete. A CoastConnect employee will contact you to schedule an appointment for an in-home installer to finalize your connection and test the services from your equipment. Once that install is complete and tested, your service should be ready to go.
DE Fastlink will need to place an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) device and a WiFi extender inside your home to establish a connection to the fiber network. This equipment is provided to the member at no cost. The use of DE Fastlink equipment is required to obtain service.
No! DE Fastlink does require you to sign a customer agreement, but no contracts are required for service.