Broadband in Ft. Wayne

Ultra-high bandwidth is creating economic growth and driving new solutions in health care, transportation and public safety.

Broadband Access from Verizon Wireless links laptop computers in Fort Wayne's police and fire department vehicles.

Verizon is delivering content to customers in ways that few companies can match.

We’ve built a national wireless data network, a global Internet Protocol (IP) backbone and a best-in-class fiber network that is delivering ultra-high bandwidth all the way to customers’ homes. Not only do these networks enable us to deliver today’s multimedia services faster and more reliably, they also provide a platform for innovation and economic growth and next-generation services.

Nowhere is that more evident than in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Fort Wayne was one of the first cities in the Midwest to have fiber-optic broadband services — FiOS — installed throughout the city. To make the most of it, the city has become a hotbed of innovative applications.

City leaders created “Innovation Teams” to promote innovation and investment. These iTeams are charged with finding new ways to enhance the city’s services via broadband. For example: A virtual medical iTeam is providing real-time diagnosis for diabetic patients with possible retinal problems. By putting a special camera in clinics, patients can be diagnosed by a specialist from a remote location, usually their office or home.

Other iTeams in the works will focus on improving services in health-care information systems, transportation, public safety, online learning, and advanced manufacturing and library services.

The city also established an initiative to support new business development and job creation.

By becoming a broadband community, Fort Wayne now has a 4 percent annual economic growth rate — outpacing the rest of the state. In short, what is still a vision for many other communities is a reality in Fort Wayne.