Local leaders from business and government gathered Monday to help Cox Communications break ground on a new critical telecommunications facility that will enhance the company’s network and bring next-generation services to homes and businesses.
The technology and entertainment company has committed to investing $10 billion over the next five years in its network infrastructure across the country, and Santa Barbara is part of that investment.
Kirsten McLaughlin, market vice president for Cox, was joined at the groundbreaking by county Supervisor Gregg Hart, Goleta Mayor Pro Tem Kyle Richards, Santa Barbara Assistant City Administrator Nina Johnson, and Goleta Councilmen Roger Aceves and James Kyriaco, among others.
“This was an exciting day to break ground on our network upgrade project that will bring next-generation services to all homes and businesses that Cox serves throughout Santa Barbara,” McLaughlin said. “Cox is already powering smart homes and businesses in our region, and this project will help power smart communities as well.”
Cox will begin construction of a new building this month at its Santa Barbara headquarters as part of its network upgrade project to bring enhanced technology, including gigabit Internet speed, to all homes and businesses it serves throughout south Santa Barbara County. The project will also include building renovations.
In the past 12 years, Cox has invested more than $15 billion in its communities nationwide through infrastructure upgrades to deliver video, high-speed Internet, and phone, security and automation services to homes and businesses, including Santa Barbara.
The project will revitalize the company’s current location, with new construction of a standalone critical telecommunications facility and the renovation of Cox’s administration building. Construction will begin later this month with an estimated completion date of March 2021.
Two buildings will be removed to construct the new standalone critical telecommunications facility, which will have an increased equipment capacity to support future network improvements in the region.
When completed, the main administrative building will include enhanced workspaces, a new state-of-the-art warehouse, a multipurpose training room as well as lab and provisioning space. The campus will also receive a new parking lot, landscape to help beautify the area, a screening gate and extension of masonry walls.
— Charla Batey is a communications specialist for Cox Communications.