WORK IN PROGRESS—Crews cover a microtrench with asphalt as part of SiFi Networks’ fiber-optic installation project along Sequoia Avenue on Feb. 28 in Simi Valley. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers
The majority of Simi Valley residents and businesses are expected to have access to ultra-fast internet by year’s end as construction of the city’s groundbreaking 10-gigabit fiber-optic network nears completion.
The Simi Valley FiberCity project, powered by SiFi Networks, began in 2021 and aims to connect all 47,600 homes and businesses in the city.
By September, crews will finish the mainline microtrenching that lays the fiber-optic infrastructure, with more than 75% of the city expected to have live service in the next few months.
“We’ve installed this network at no cost to taxpayers and this project is responsible for initiating and paying for more than 200 city permits,” said Geoff Keyser, SiFi project manager, at the city council’s Aug. 18 meeting. “The network is citywide, meaning that we passed each and every home and business, enabling every household the opportunity to connect.”
This, Keyser said, is helping to close the digital divide.
Simi Valley’s partnership with SiFi Networks, approved in 2020, positioned the city as Ventura County’s first and California’s third to embrace such a high-speed, open-access system.
The network allows multiple service providers to negotiate access to the infrastructure, giving residents a choice of internet providers and speeds of up to 10,000 megabits per second, or 10 gigabits per second.
Aspire Communications is handling installations for SiFi Networks, while GigabitNow and Flume are the contracted internet service providers.
The project divides the city into 16 zones. Crews have been installing fiber clockwise from the Metrolink station, moving westward and wrapping around the city’s northern half before returning to the train station.
Delays due to contractor changes and cleanup requirements pushed the completion date by a year.
Keyser said major milestones, including completing all railroad crossings, have been achieved, opening the door for thousands of addresses to go live.
Keyser said the network currently reaches just over 30% of the city but will expand to more than 75% in the coming months. Nearly the entire city—more than 99%—will have live service by the end of 2025.
He noted that areas such as Wood Ranch received service by the end of August, while neighborhoods around Atherwood Park will be connected by October.
Installation crews have doubled in size to meet demand, and customer installations— including laterals from the mainline trench to individual properties— are being completed with 100% success, Keyser said.
The network is entirely financed, built, operated and maintained by SiFi Networks at no cost to the city. Keyser said the company holds a 25-year contract with Simi Valley, ensuring long-term commitment while allowing for future technological upgrades.
Councilmember Elaine Litster said residents have been eagerly awaiting the project.
“We appreciate that 25-year commitment,” she said.
For updates on construction and service availability, residents can go online to simivalleyfibercity.com