Sprint and the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council announce the installation of Sprint’s Internet Backbone Point-of-Presence in Poulsbo, giving Poulsbo and Kitsap area business customers an edge in competing in the new, digital economy.

“This service is fiber-fed, top-level peering Internet service equaling what a customer would find in downtown Seattle,” said Brad Camp, Sprint public affairs manager. “Until now, there was no other way to access this level of service unless you paid for the lines and mileage all the way to the Seattle access points.”

The Poulsbo POP is seen a potential boon for economic development in Kitsap County — especially as it pertains to attracting technology-based companies.

“Having Broadband Internet access easily accessible in Kitsap County will allow us to leap frog into the new economy,” said Kevin Dwyer, the EDC’s Director of Business Recruitment and Marketing. “It’s one key element that has been missing in our efforts to recruit high-tech businesses. ... With Sprint and other communications investments now in the works, Kitsap has an opportunity to excel in the information age and not be left behind.”

The EDC has been very active in promoting the need for advanced telecommunications in Kitsap County and throughout West Sound and has worked closely with local Sprint officials to secure the Poulsbo POP. Sprint also has been an active participant in the EDC-sponsored Regional Telecommunications Committee, an ad hoc group that meets twice-monthly to discuss telecommunications issues.

“While many parts of the country are debating the emergence of the so-called digital divide, Poulsbo is already in the game and ahead of many of its peers,” Sprint’s Camp added. “This connection will level the telecommunications playing field when competing for high-tech, clean industry locating in the Poulsbo area, such as call-centers, dot.com companies, bandwidth hungry local firms and Internet Service Providers.”

The Poulsbo hub will allow high-use business and Internet Service Providers (ISP) the ability to directly link with the Sprint backbone instead of backhauling all of their Internet traffic to another city.

Poulsbo’s Paladin Data Systems Corp. is one of the first users of Sprint’s POP in Kitsap County.

“The additional Internet bandwidth available to Paladin from the Sprint Link connection in Poulsbo is key to our ability to expand into additional service offerings, and will also allow us to house more developers in our Kitsap County facilities,” said Gary Macy, Paladin’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

“Sprint has been instrumental in not only the expansion of Paladin’s Internet communications capability, but also recently supported Paladin in the installation of the area’s first fully digital Internet-based phone system linking Sprint and Paladin facilities throughout the state with a completely digital voice communications system,” Macy added.

Sprint is initiating this service all across the Northwest. Poulsbo is the first public launch in Washington. Sunnyside, in Eastern Washington, is next on the launch list in September. In Oregon, Hood River and Lincoln City are on target as well.