|
King County's telecommunications sector is one of the fastest-growing service industries. Telecommunications (or telcom) is no longer restricted to telephone or cable copper wires; it encompasses fiber optics, wireless (cellular and satellite) technology, and now laser/microwave transmission in urban parts of the region. High tech companies, such as data centers, “e-tailers,”Internet service providers, and even industrial/distribution companies are in a rush to gain access to fiber optic nodes (or “pipes”) to transmit necessary data at quick and uninterrupted speed. King County meets this rush by providing access to an advanced telecom backbone where virtually all metropolitan, suburban and many rural areas are served by digital switching technology to ensure unencumbered access to quick data transmission. Developers are now building “telco hotels” (large data centers at centralized locations; sometimes housed in downtown skyscrapers) and buildings that are completely wired with the fastest pipes and include appropriate levels of redundancy.
The backbone of this advanced telcommunications system is fiber optic cable, which allows improved data transmission. Qwest originally installed the world's first deep water fiber optic cable beneath Lake Washington in 1984. This was just the start of more than 1,000 route miles of fiber optic cable which allow lightwave transmission throughout King County's busiest exchanges. Virtually all metropolitan areas in the Northwest are served by digital switching technology ensuring faster data transmission, increased capacity and maximum clarity.
In King County, consumers have access to modern cellular/wireless networks that are ahead of many parts of the country. The major carriers have widespread coverage throughout the state of Washington and are connected to national networks, providing seamless call delivery without access codes or advance billing arrangements to locations around the world. Competition in the region has increased with new carriers providing personal communication services and hybrid cellular services.
|
