GRANJENO, Texas – The residents of Granjeno had very poor broadband options and then came SmartCom Telephone & Internet.
The company installed a fiber optic network so that the city has the fastest upload and download speeds available in the Rio Grande Valley.
“This is a game changer,” said Granjeno resident Jaime Cortez, in response to a question about how good the service is from SmartCom.
Another Granjeno resident, Rafael Garza, agreed.
“Fiber optic is an amazing step (forward) in technology for us,” Garza said. “It gets our community in touch with the rest of the world much faster, and without interruption.”
Michael Lea Hilton, sales manager for SmartCom, explained how the project evolved.
“SmartCom has a fiber optic network that serves many educational, commercial and governmental entities in the Rio Grande Valley,” Hilton said. “Our fiber routes pass near the City of Granjeno, so it made perfect sense for SmartCom to invest in this community and help them to bridge the digital divide.”
Hilton said that in October, 2021, SmartCom met with Granjeno residents to discuss the company’s plans. Then, in 2022, the company used private funding to deploy fiber-to-the-home to houses along FM 494 and El Camino Real.
“SmartCom offers internet speeds up to one gigabit per second (Gbps), with prices starting as low as $69 for a 250 x 250 megabit per second (Mbps) connection,” Hilton said.
“Customers may also qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that can offer credits of up to $30 on their monthly internet bill.”
Hilton added: “We have replicated our success in Granjeno, by deploying fiber to the homes in Progreso, Lopeño, and Arroyo City. Our plan is to add even more communities before the end of the year.”
Editor’s Note: Click here to learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Editor’s Note: To learn more about the services Smart Com offers, call 956-687-7070 or email [email protected].
Editor’s Note: Here is a recent video interview with Granjeno residents Rafael Garza and Jaime Cortez:
Video
