BANGOR – State and local dignitaries were on hand Tuesday to announce the connection of the first business customers to Oxford Networks’ new $4 million fiber optic network.

The 42-mile local network is the first of its kind to connect fiber optics to businesses in the Bangor-Brewer area. The local network links with Oxford’s recently expanded fiber optics connection to Boston, giving local businesses high-speed Internet access to large population centers around the world.

John Richardson, commissioner of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development, believes this will give Maine a long-term economic boost.

“It will mean a future here in Maine,” he said. “It’s the innovation and ability to provide technology capability. This makes it very easy for me to go out and sell this state.”

Oxford’s expansion was announced Tuesday at a media conference at the Challenger Learning Center in Bangor, the first organization to connect to the Fiber to the Premise, or FTTP, network.

“We’re connected to Boston so we can reach out and connect to other carriers,” said Craig Gunderson, president of Oxford Networks. “It makes the area more competitive and allows for [existing] businesses to be retained and for prospective businesses to be courted by economic development as they now have access to technology to meet whatever needs evolve over time.”

Oxford Networks made news in April when it announced an agreement to provide the University of Maine System and the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor with high-capacity broadband Internet access.

The FTTP connection now being offered to local businesses can be anywhere from 10 to 40 times faster than what is available to most local businesses currently, according to John Dougherty, project manager for Oxford Networks.

“This can change the economic future for businesses in the area,” Dougherty said. “They don’t have to move. Whatever is available in Boston is available here today. … And we get to maintain our quality of life.”

Gov. John Baldacci was on hand to congratulate Oxford Networks and recognize the teamwork between Bangor and Brewer.

“It’s a unique opportunity to see Bangor and Brewer uniting and joining the loop,” Baldacci said. “This is an important improvement. There are companies that depend on this.”

Technology is driving a continuously developing global economy, and Bangor Mayor Susan Hawes is ready to compete.

“The city is aware that broadband is [essential] for commerce,” Hawes said. “High-speed Internet is an essential communication tool for the 21st century. Access to broadband allows people to work anytime anywhere.”

Beyond helping local businesses remain here and expand, the network will attract new businesses to the area, according to Richardson and others.

“There are a lot of sole proprietors doing business around the world, and we want to give them a chance to do it here now,” said Tanya Pereira, Brewer’s economic development specialist. “Having this in Bangor and Brewer sets the bar high.”

Education may depend on it as well. Nathan Michaud, executive director of the Challenger Learning Center, sees the importance of the project.

“Things are changing profoundly,” he said. “Education will be more about connecting to resources and navigating the Web. In order to do that, you need the connectivity we now have. It will support education now and in the future in Maine. This will undoubtedly pay dividends in the future.”