REPUBLIC, MO — Republic and Clever will have enhanced internet coverage. Poor internet service is a concern for businesses and homeowners in both cities.
Earlier this month, Cable America announced it had begun construction on a $3.3 million internet upgrade project.
Krista Stevens, who runs Invictus Salon in Republic, says her POS system doesn’t work properly over Wi-Fi.
“We’ve lived in this building for 10 years,” Krista Stevens said. “And we never went back and forth between her husband’s coffee shop and the salon to really receive a strong Wi-Fi signal.”
At any given time, Krista Stevens said 10 people could try to check out and use the Wi-Fi at her store.
To meet customer demand, she had to consider other, more expensive options to keep her business running smoothly.
“That means the Wi-Fi has to be very strong to handle all the iPads that pass through the salon,” Stephens says. “Or they could stay independent like they are now, each with their own Wi-Fi pack or cellular package and handle that on their own.”
To enhance its internet service, Cable America says it plans to add approximately 52 miles of new fiber and 22 miles of coaxial cable throughout the Republic throughout this year.
“I mean, we’re all connected, we’ve got Roku TVs, we’ve got decent internet out there,” Stevens said. “But there’s still lag time.”
Stevens said the region needs a more robust internet as the republic continues to grow.
“The infrastructure needs to be strong to handle all the businesses coming in and the way they choose to operate,” Stevens said. “I believe there will be more of this kind of activity in the future. So we definitely need to be able to keep our systems in place.”
Once the upgrade is complete, Stevens says she will consider switching providers.
“I think it depends on the pricing and what that will look like for us and what it will actually deliver,” Stevens said. “So I won’t know until I try, but I think I’ll probably be the first to try.”
Cable America expects the upgrade to be completed by the end of the year. They also plan to add more than 4 miles of new fiber and about 2 miles of new coaxial cable to Clever.
