Blog - Softcom Internet Communications, Inc.

New tech brings better, faster, stronger internet to the Delta

August 28, 2017 4G LTE, Community News, General News, Internet Service Area News

We’re excited to announce some big moves we’re making bringing improved internet services to the Delta region. Our technicians have been working hard replacing existing WiMAX equipment with upgraded next-generation 4G LTE. This is a game changer for the region, bringing improved internet for current Softcom subscribers, and opening the door for others who have been told they are too remote for internet access – until now!

Our mission of providing high-speed internet where others fail to go fits perfectly with the Delta region, a unique region composed of thousands of miles of waterways and one of the most productive farming areas in the United States. Remote is a way of life, and people who live and work in the Delta have become used to falling under the radar when it comes to internet access. There are people who live aboard their boats and others who spend their days working in farms or vineyards, choosing to commute a considerable distance or set down roots in the Delta, loving the peace and beauty of the region.

How do Softcom and spicy chili go together? Come to Wilton to see

August 21, 2017 Community News, General News

When we found out there was a chance to participate in one of the most popular events in Wilton, we jumped. The Wilton Firefighters Association Chili Cook-Off and Classic Car show is an annual event with fun activities that brings people together while supporting community organizations.

Held at Fog Willow Farms near Elk Grove, the event will also feature other local businesses and vendors, crafts, a kid’s fun zone, live entertainment, a BBQ lunch, raffles and a silent auction. Fog Willow Farm is located at the end of Cecatra Drive off Green Road in Wilton and offers plenty of room for vendors, activities, the car show, and lots of off-street parking. You can find out more information about the venue and directions at fogwillowfarms.com.

Fiber Optics installed at Softcom Headquarters

July 25, 2017 Fiber Optics, General News

We’re excited to let you know that here at Softcom headquarters, we’re in the process of deploying our first commercial offering of “fiber to the suite” technology for our first handful of commercial customers here at our facility at 545 Industrial Drive in Galt.

Fiber optic connections are exceedingly fast compared with traditional copper connections. Fiber optic cables relies on light instead of electricity to transmit data, which offers numerous advantages. The end result is that fiber-optic cable gives us a way to offer the fastest possible internet connections capable of handling extreme bandwidths. According to a report from the FCC, fiber optic providers consistently offer 117% of advertised speed, even during times of peak demand.

Softcom announces new upgrades to Kettleman Tower

July 6, 2017 Equipment Upgrades, General News

We’re pleased to announce a series of new upgrades on the Kettleman Tower, one of the Softcom facilities that serve our customers in the region encompassing the south part of Clements and the north part of Linden. A full-size lattice tower has been constructed near the existing structure which will allow us to upgrade our equipment at that site, paving the way for higher connection speeds and 4G LTE connectivity. Service to our current customers should not be affected during this transition, which is expected to be finished by the end of July.

We are continually looking for ways to add or improve our equipment and services in order to provide the best in service, connectivity and speed for our customers as we continue to reinvest into our network. Our team has been working on completely upgrading nearly every piece of equipment at our Kettleman site to make sure our customers have the best online experience possible.

Softcom CTO visits Telrad headquarters in Israel

June 21, 2017 4G LTE, General News

Softcom Chief Technology Officer Brian Meredith spent several days in Tel Aviv, Israel in May 2017 visiting the headquarters of Telrad Networks, a global provider of innovative 4G LTE telecom solutions with more than 300 4G LTE deployments in over 100 countries – including right here at home for Softcom. Brian was invited to the Telrad headquarters in Israel, along with other leaders in our industry, to discuss the latest developments at Telrad, most specifically with their 4G LTE products.

Telrad Networks is a recognized pioneer in the telecom industry, facilitating the connectivity needs of millions of end-users through operators, ISPs and vertical markets around the globe. Their focus is on 4G LTE products designed to enable wireless broadband connectivity, providing solutions that look toward the future – while offering the versatility and affordability required to meet the existing needs of evolving wireless networks.

Announcing significant technology upgrades at Softcom headquarters

May 5, 2017 4G LTE, Equipment Upgrades, General News

We’re excited to share that after months of hard work (neither rain, nor mud, nor more rain could hold us back!) we’ve finally completed a cutting-edge technology upgrades for our primary tower at the Network Operations Center here in Galt. This is a significant milestone for us and our customers, providing significant improvements in service, connectivity and speed for many of our customers as they are able to transition to high-speed 4G LTE.

Braving this past season’s harsh weather, the Softcom crews have been working non-stop over the past several months to install and test the new equipment on the 195-foot tower located at our headquarters. Many customers have already been switched over to 4G LTE service, while others are scheduled or are in the process of upgrading from their current WiMAX service – all at no cost to them.

Softcom named Business of the Month by Galt Chamber of Commerce

April 19, 2017 General News

We’re excited to share that Softcom was recently recognized as Business of the Month for April by the Galt District Chamber of Commerce. The Galt Chamber of Commerce recognizes a business each month that has proven itself to be a positive presence both financially and through active involvement and support of the community they are a part of.

“Softcom has an exceptional level of commitment to the community that really makes them stand out,” said Chamber Vice-Chair Ann Ullrich, of Parker Realty. “For example, during our recent community Easter Eggstravaganza, the fire department ladder truck wasn’t able to make it for the traditional egg drop. Softcom stepped in and offered the use of one of their trucks at the last minute so that the celebration could go on.”

Our commitment to your privacy

April 13, 2017 General News, Online Security

Internet Privacy is Important to Us

A few weeks ago, legislation was signed into law that made changes to internet privacy. The new law may allow Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to sell customer internet use data. Prior to this legislation being signed, the law required that ISPs transparently disclose private data collection and sales, prohibiting them from selling customer data to 3^rd parties, and requiring that ISP consumers opt in to the collection of their private financial or browsing history data.

According to DSLReports, the vote to dismantle the rules is seen as a massive win for giant ISPs; especially as those like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast now realize new massive advertising income potential by selling their customer’s private internet use data.

Slow Internet? Here’s what to do

April 12, 2017 4G LTE, General News

Remember the days of dial-up slow internet?

You’d click through to log in to the internet, go make yourself a cup of coffee, and hope that by the time you got back to your computer you’d be logged in and ready to go. Luckily those days of slow internet are long gone and today’s connections just keep getting better and faster, even for those of us who live in rural areas. Unfortunately, though, slow-downs do still happen once in a while, even when you have a high-speed connection. They can happen for a variety of reasons, and thankfully some of them can easily be solved at home.

While we do everything we can to assure that our customers here at Softcom get the best – and fastest – service possible, keeping things working here at Softcom is only one part of the equation – your own equipment needs to be working properly for you to have the best internet experience. We know there are other factors that can affect speed, too, so put together a quick checklist to go through when slow internet speeds get you down.

How to keep your family safe on the internet

March 29, 2017 General News, Online Security

The internet has drastically changed the way that people of every age interact with the world around them. Children now have a wealth of educational and social opportunities at their fingertips. Adults can work, shop, and connect with friends and family members all over the world. There are truly many wonders online, but there are also a vast number of dangers and pitfalls that lie in wait as well.

Even in homes where basic internet safety is practiced, there are still dangers that literally pop up online, even when doing “normal” activities such as reading emails, checking social media, or doing homework. For instance, 70% of kids ages 8-18 report accidentally encountering online pornography, very often when entering an innocent search term while doing homework. Personal crimes such as stalking or cyber bullying are growing at alarming rates. And cyber crimes including phishing emails and other internet scams cost Americans $800 million last year. In fact, According to Verizon’s “2016 Data Breach Investigations Report,” 30 percent of phishing emails are actually opened, and 12 percent of those targeted click on the infecting link or attachment.

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