Lumos Networks, NorthState combine under Lumos brand, name new CEO
Sibling broadband service providers NorthState and Lumos Networks will now operate under a single brand, Lumos. The companies also have a new CEO, Brian Stading, most recently COO of Ziply Fiber.
NorthState had served North Carolina and Lumos Networks Virginia. Both are owned by EQT, which had operated the two brands as a single company. The combined Lumos assets include an all-fiber infrastructure of more than 5000 miles that reaches more than 200,000 residential and business properties across the two states. Lumos expects to reach 1 million passings and nearly 20,000 miles of route fiber by 2026.
“The launch of a new Lumos brand underscores the ambition, acceleration, and rapid business transformation guiding our company into new territories,” stated Karen Puckett, chair of the Lumos board of directors. “We are thrilled to have Brian’s experience and leadership as we expand and look forward to being first with fiber in countless communities that are currently underserved by inadequate digital infrastructure.”
Stading brings more than 30 years of telecommunications industry experience to his new position. He replaces Diego Anderson, who will transition to a strategic advisory role.
“We believe that the infrastructure of yesterday can’t unlock the possibilities of tomorrow. The new Lumos brand represents our focus on building a 100% Fiber-optic network from the ground up—one built for the next 50 years, not the last 50. Fiber is internet innovation; not only does fiber have unlimited data capacity and speed, but it’s also reliable, accessible and, most important, ready for whatever the future holds,” said Stading. “We have a saying: ‘Why reboot the internet when you can rebuild it?’ And this is the core of Lumos. We are building the internet of the future, and I am honored to lead the charge.”
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director & Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, DOCSIS technology, and more.