Lumos Networks got the okay to use the Town of Troutville water tower for an experiment with “near line-of-sight” fixed wireless internet in the community.

Lumos representative David Smith said the experiment will help the company determine how effective using the fixed wireless service may be for parts of Botetourt that do not have access to the fiber network needed for high speed service.

The company is already experimenting with fixed wireless at Troutville Town Park, using a 35-foot device that’s on the company’s property across US 11 from the park.

That, Smith said, has become a bit of a hotspot because it provides wireless service from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. each day and allows users up to two hours of service daily.

“We can definitely see the use,” Smith said of the current trial at the park. He said the company has had as many as 50 devices accessing that wireless at one time. Usually, on weekends, the company sees as many as 30 devices accessing the service.

That prompted the company to move to a new phase— having the service at a higher elevation. By putting the service on the water tower, the company will gain 80 feet.

Smith said that locally, the company does not have the go-ahead-from its corporate office to locate the needed equipment on the water tower, but wanted Town Council’s permission to do so should he be able to move forward with the trial.

He said the higher elevation should provide fixed wireless service up to two or three miles away.

A few existing customers in that area who do not have access to fiber will have a chance to be part of the trial.

If the trial is approved by the company higher-ups, and it’s successful, it could set the stage for offering the service— Smith said up to 100mb— to potential customers.

Smith said the devices used to transmit the fixed wireless signal have to be pointed directionally. He asked council to put up to four of the devices on the water tower, although the company may try only one.

Council agreed to a trial period of 180 days, with that period to start when the company locates the transmitters on the water tower.

Smith said Lumos is using Connect America Funding that’s geared to putting high speed internet in rural areas. That’s a 10-year program that requires participating companies to provide at least 10mb of service. Smith said Lumos wants to build out to 100mb.

The company is already working on investing up to $800,000 in service in the Timber Ridge and Eagle Rock areas of the county.