Crews have been busy installing the lines, posing a temporary inconvenience for some.
Russell Huffman | El Defensor Chieftain

After weeks of laying fiber optic lines in the city, TDS Telecommunications reached a milestone last week by connecting its first customers for high-speed internet services in Socorro. According to an announcement last week, TDS says it expects to offer up to 8-Gig internet speeds along with a sophisticated digital TDS television product and a variety of phone options. The company will ultimately provide services to nearly 5,300 new residential and business addresses in Socorro.

Mayor Ravi Bhasker said the work was critical for Socorro’s economic growth.

“Access to high-speed internet is a welcome addition to the residents and businesses here in Socorro,” Bhasker said. “Thank you, TDS, for investing in our community, modernizing our internet, and improving our infrastructure. High-speed internet is critical to Socorro’s economic growth and will help us build an even stronger economy.”

TDS Broadband Technician and Socorro resident Manny Lucero said the launching of fiber services is “huge” here.

“Businesses, students, employees, gamers, and families are very happy TDS is bringing fiber services to Socorro,” Lucero said. “The pandemic has highlighted our need for bandwidth and TDS will be providing the services we need.”

Lucero was born and raised in Socorro and has worked in telecommunications for 12 years. He works in both Socorro and Truth or Consequences.

TDS is working with CEC Facilities Group out of Irving, Texas, to construct the network, which is being implemented in phases encompassing four sections of town, involving both burial and aerial cables

The upgraded network includes symmetrical speeds, matching download and upload speeds up to 8Gig. Fast downloads are ideal for streaming videos, music, video chat, and gaming.

“We have heard from many residents how excited they are for our reliable TDS Fiber,” said Drew Petersen, senior vice president of corporate affairs for TDS. “We’re so pleased to be serving Socorro.”

TDS already provides TV services to Socorro and now, along with newly established internet speeds, the growth of TDS’ fiber footprint expands the availability of TDS TV+. The cloud-based TV service combines live TV—broadcast channels, regional sports content, and national cable channels—with subscription-based streaming services.

The company says TDS TV+ uses smart technology to provide custom recommendations based on people’s viewing habits. The service includes a voice-activated remote that gives customers quick access to the full functionality of their TV experience. Customers can also stream live TV and recordings on personal devices at home or on-the-go with TV Everywhere.

TDS adds that the network expansion will offer business customers internet access and transport connections up to 10Gig via dedicated fiber and TDS-managed IP, a hosted VoIP communications solution.

This project is solely a private-sector investment from TDS. No government support funds will be used.

For residents who would like to learn when they can sign up, go to TDSFiber.com/Socorro to register.

TDS provides communications services to various rural and suburban communities throughout the U.S. The company employs over 3,500 people nationwide and is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a Fortune 1000 company. Founded in 1969, Telephone and Data Systems provides wireless, broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately six million connections nationwide through its businesses: UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions.

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain