Brightspeed unveils Alabama fiber network plan for 120,000 fiber-enabled locations

Charlotte, NC-based Brightspeed has released the details of its planned fiber network build for Alabama, part of the service provider’s $2 billion initiative to serve rural and suburban regions across 20 states. By the end of 2023, Brightspeed expects to finish Phase 1 of the construction of the Alabama network, delivering over 60,000 new fiber passings across several counties in the state. Subsequent phases will add another 60,000 fiber passings for a total of up to 120,000 new fiber-enabled locations in its Alabama footprint.

Over the next 18 months, the Phase 1 Alabama network build will focus on residential and commercial locations within Baldwin, Covington, Dale, Elmore, Fayette, Geneva, Henry, Pickens, and Tallapoosa counties. These new locations will augment the more than 10,000 existing fiber passings Brightspeed will assume upon the close of the pending transaction between Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) and Apollo-managed funds (NYSE: APO) that will create the company (see “Lumen to sell CenturyLink ILECs in 20 states to Apollo Funds”).

The company's XGS-PON-based network will enable downstream and upstream internet speeds that exceed 1 Gbps. The FTTP architecture will help speed roll out. "We will be ready to hit the ground running with our deployment," said Sherry Hessenthaler, operations strategy lead for Brightspeed. "In addition to our own network investment in Alabama, we are equally inspired by the opportunity to partner with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to pursue a possible extension of the build and bring fiber-based internet to even more customers in the state."

Information regarding Brightspeed's other state-specific network build plans will be forthcoming. When the five-year project is complete, the company expects to deliver advanced services to three million homes and businesses.

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