Town of Hanover Completes First Phase of Fiber Optic Network Project 4/28/25

The Town of Hanover is proud to announce the completion of the first phase of a multi-phase project to build a fiber optic network throughout the community. With over $775,000 in grant funding, this highly collaborative and community-enhancing effort installed six miles of fiber optic cable, linking nine municipal sites to the regional dispatch center in Duxbury, with minimal direct cost to Hanover residents.

This project significantly enhances the speed, reliability, and security of internet services within the municipal government by replacing the town’s aging VPN system with a more modern fiber-optic network. In addition to improving internal efficiencies, the new system provides the backbone for an ongoing public safety radio infrastructure upgrade, adding redundancy, improving reliability, and expanding capabilities for the town’s fire and police departments.

The need to replace the town’s outdated VPN system had been a top priority for several years, especially as technological demands increased following the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, municipal buildings and schools operated using a mix of commercial internet service provider routers, resulting in costly, slow, and unreliable service. Hanover Public Schools, in particular, struggled with insufficient bandwidth, leading to frequent technology issues that consumed significant staff time and resources. The new fiber network addresses these challenges, providing secure, reliable, and high-speed internet service while greatly enhancing cybersecurity across all municipal buildings.

The project also strengthens public safety communications by adding redundancy to the town’s radio infrastructure and introducing new capabilities. One key improvement is the installation of a grant-funded UHF radio system in all Hanover Public School buildings. This system equips staff with mobile and portable radios to enhance daily communications within and between schools, as well as provide reliable communication with first responders during emergencies.

This project had been a long-standing item on Hanover’s capital plan, and its successful completion is the result of strong collaboration between the Hanover Fire and Emergency Management Agency, Hanover Public Schools, Hanover IT Operations, Hanover DPW, Hanover Police Department, and the Regional Old Colony Communications Center.

The Town of Hanover looks forward to the immediate and lasting positive impact this project will have on the community and its residents.