Startup Hexvarium thinks better data can close the broadband gap

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Hexvarium is hoping to make it easier for service providers to understand the long-term costs and revenue associated with prospective broadband builds using a new software mapping tool. CEO Gerry Lawlor said that the tool will provide detailed data insights that have hitherto been lacking in the industry, and, ultimately help close the broadband gap. The company’s HexMAPP software breaks the entire US down into hexagonal blocks. These are color-coded based on build desirability, which is calculated by combining a range of inputs gleaned from the US Census, Federal Communications Commission, and proprietary data. By clicking on a block, service providers can get a detailed view of not only the mix of people and businesses in an area but also income levels, what types of products and price points a location might require, forecast demand over time, and the competitive landscape. Hexvarium has also already mocked up a network design to push fiber to every home in the country. That means it can cross reference this design – which includes information about the expected mix of aerial versus buried construction, the total number of route miles needed, take rates, etc. – with the aforementioned data to yield a detailed cost/benefit analysis for each hex block. The company’s software is also built to reflect the relationship between blocks. Hexvarium believes the ability to provide better data about the 40 to 50 million homes in the US that are riskier to cover will help convince service providers to take the leap into less desirable areas and ultimately close the broadband gap.


Startup Hexvarium thinks better data can close the broadband gap