Building Broadband: altafiber to extend fiber broadband 100K Ohio locations; Amperage secures investment from S2G Ventures for rural broadband
altafiber, Amperage, Balfour Beatty Communities, Kinetic and Vero are all stepping up their efforts to expand fiber-based broadband in various communities through a mix of venture capital and state funding sources.
altafiber enhances Northeast Ohio fiber broadband reach
altafiber is extending its XGS-PON fiber network into Northeast Ohio with the addition of approximately 100,000 addresses located in suburban areas of Akron and Cleveland. Construction in these geographies is currently scheduled to begin in early 2025. The regional fiber broadband expansion plan in Summit, Portage, Geauga, and Cuyahoga Counties includes Tallmadge, Kent, Hudson, Twinsburg, Solon, Streetsboro, Stow, Aurora, and other surrounding communities. Plans are being finalized to expand to additional communities in Northeast Ohio as well.
Amperage secures investment from S2G Ventures to expand rural broadband access
Amperage, an investor in rural broadband service providers has secured an investment from S2G Ventures, a multi-stage investment firm focused on the food & agriculture, oceans, and energy sectors. Founded in 2022 and based in Loveland, Colorado, Amperage is a broadband infrastructure investment company committed to bridging the digital divide through fit-for-purpose partnerships tailored to the needs of underserved communities. With this investment from S2G, Amperage will look to accelerate its growth by partnering with leading internet service providers across the United States and supporting them with Amperage's fully integrated investment, project management, and community-building capabilities.
Amperage recently announced its investment in Aristotle Unified Communications, a rural internet service provider in Arkansas with a network reaching nearly 30,000 homes. This investment aims to expand Aristotle's network to many more underserved communities in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois. The company also recently announced its acquisition of Ascension Infrastructure Group, a premier infrastructure development and program management group based in Seattle and Denver.
Balfour Beatty Communities brings fiber connectivity to the military housing market
Balfour Beatty Communities (BBC), a national residential real estate investment and management company, is engaging with multiple fiber optic network providers to introduce fiber-based broadband to its privatized military housing portfolio. The initial rollout will include 10,000 homes at six U.S. Army bases. This strategic upgrade is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and deliver improved digital services to military families residing in housing on base. BBC is currently in various phases of development with third-party providers to implement FTTH projects in its military housing communities at Fort Eisenhower (GA), Fort Bliss (TX), Fort Jackson (SC), Fort Stewart (GA), Fort Leonard Wood (MO), and Fort Carson (CO), with plans to continue expanding access across the balance of its military housing portfolio.
Kinetic lights up fiber broadband for Hamilton County, FL.
Kinetic has made 77% of Florida’s Hamilton County, or 4,509 homes and businesses, “fiber ready,” meaning residents previously unserved or underserved are now eligible to upgrade to gigabit broadband services. The service provider placed 278 miles of fiber optic cable to support the network services. Kinetic invested $7 million into Hamilton County’s broadband development to execute the project. The Kinetic investment was combined with the $2 million Hamilton County poured into the area to bring residents and small business owners fiber-based capabilities.
Vero secures $80M in financing to accelerate fiber construction growth
Vero has completed $80 million in preferred equity financing, enabling the company to build fiber to the homes in underserved communities in Colorado and other markets. Led by Delta-v Capital and funds managed by Hamilton Lane, with participation from existing Vero investors, the funding round closed in August 2024. In addition, Vero will utilize this equity capital, in conjunction with its debt facility, to finance accretive business acquisition opportunities and facilitate success-based wholesale and ample enterprise opportunities in the pipeline.
Lightwave+BTR is tracking service providers' ongoing efforts to extend broadband to more homes and businesses via our Building Broadband series. If you want to share a new broadband build, contact Lightwave+BTR’s editor-in-chief, Sean Buckley, at [email protected].
Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.