Cox finishing project to give Henderson businesses faster Internet

By Daniel Rothberg

Published Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 | 4:06 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 | 6 p.m.

Cox Communications expects to complete construction this month on a project to provide Henderson businesses with Internet speeds of 10 gigabits per second or greater — speeds that make it possible to download a high-quality movie in 17 seconds or 1,000 songs in roughly a second.

The company, which expects to invest $10.3 million over the next five years as it connects businesses, began the project in October, the company said in a statement.

Cox expects to make service available in March.

Nearly all Henderson businesses — 98 percent — will have access to fiber optic cable by the end of the month, Cox Business said in a statement.

Commercial customers will have access to the 10 gigabit-per-second Internet speed. The connection could be helpful for businesses that regularly need to transfer large amounts of data.

The pricing will depend on the requirements of each business.

Since March, Cox has been providing speeds of one gigabit per second to some residents in parts of the Las Vegas Valley. That speed, one that would allow customers to download a high-quality movie in just under three minutes, starts at $119 a month or $99 a month if it’s bundled. It is available in certain pockets of the valley, including in parts of Henderson. After Cox completes this project, most of Henderson will be connected.

“What Cox wants to do is be in a position to provide to businesses and consumers the fastest Internet speeds available, so we can enhance their experience and help drive economic growth in the region,” Cox Business/Hospitality Network Vice President Derrick Hill said.

Hill said the company is planning a similar project in North Las Vegas.

Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen said in a statement that the service aligns with one of the priorities he outlined in his state of the city address — investment in the city’s infrastructure.

“We appreciate resourceful partners like Cox Business working to help bring resources to our business community, broaden our fiber optic reach and continue to ensure our status as America’s premier community for businesses and residents,” Hafen said.