Running FIBER internet to 200+ RV Sites

mobile home university
1

I just wanted to share my experience building an ISP inside of a newly constructed RV Park in Colorado. Here’s the bullet points:

  • RV Park has 200+ sites
  • Roughly 3 miles of buried fiber optic and ethernet cables
  • The Network also supports electrical meters for automatic reads + invoicing
  • The Network also supports 28 security cameras recording 24/7
  • Each site has a dedicated surge protected outdoor 1Gig Ethernet port
  • WiFi Routers are provided, placed inside of the RV to provide a private WiFi network to the guest
  • No contracts, 5 minute setup, speeds up to 850/850mpbs
  • Short term and long term guests absolutely love the amenity and often extend their stay because of the convenience.

My goal was to build a system that was not reliant on point to point or broad area WiFi access points because RVs block the signal. But if the WiFi is INSIDE the RV … problem solved.

Guests are setup on arrival, and we offer daily, weekly and monthly rates. The amenity is operated by me but it’s completely transparent, on the same bill with the RV Park.

Every community deserves reliable high-speed internet, I don’t believe that the answer should always be Satellite, 5G or WiFi outside in a tree.

Ok, ask me what else I’ve learned! This has been a wild ride!

2

What was the average cost per site for that system?

3

Hey Carl, it was a bit tricky to analyze the cost per site since I also added 28 security cameras and wired up the electrical meters over the same network, and I had a lot of sweat equity into it, BUT, it’s about 500.00/site for parts and labor and customer equipment like routers. Now that I have one under my belt I know that I could do it even more efficiently.

My break even projections usually worked out to 18 to 24 months.

I can post some pictures once I’m allowed by the forum.