SYCAMORE | Internet in Sycamore is moving into the fast lane.

Sycamore has approved DeKalb Fiber Optic LLC’s installation of fiber optic cables in the parkways of certain parts of the city.

Fiber optic cable, in general, provides increased bandwidth to pass vast amounts of information faster than other high-speed Internet applications, according to Sycamore’s City Council meeting agenda from Nov. 20.

With this new addition, Sycamore hopes to attract more business within the Peace Road and Bethany Road sectors.

“I think the linkages will be very useful just for the city of Sycamore,” said Sycamore City Manager Bill Nicklas. “Linking our remote buildings like the Water Department will really help.”

Presently, there is a fiber optic connection between the public safety building and county dispatch center.

“The connection allows the fastest possible alert for dispatching fire calls as well as police calls,” Nicklas said.

In exchange for using the city’s right of ways, DeKalb Fiber Optic LLC is installing the conduit and providing the city with four strands of fiber for future use.

In terms of citizen use, the fiber cables are currently reserved for businesses.

“Right now [the company is] focusing on commercial,” Nicklas said. “Whether individuals will tie [the fiber optics] into their house is uncertain, but it could happen.”

Nicklas gave the example of a subdivision utilizing the new technology.

“The subdivision will have to run [cable] in parkways, [the company] will have to know if someone will want to use it,” he said. “It’s not a cheap thing to pull the cable and access may be prohibited.”

Installation of the new cable has already begun.

“It’s going in the Peace Road quarter by the 3M Facility,” Nicklas said. “Rather than digging a long ditch, they use a machine to push cable down along parkway and use sound to avoid hitting pipes.”

Connecting Sycamore with the current branch coming up from DeKalb will be completed within a year or so, Nicklas said.

Katie Trusk is City Reporter for the Northern Star.