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Clearfield and Hawaiian Telcom are continuing to advance an ambitious project to make Hawaii the first fully fiber-enabled state.
Source: Noah Wire Services
With over 60% of homes already connected, Hawaiian Telcom and Clearfield are pushing towards completing Hawaii’s $1.7 billion fiber network by late 2026.
According to Clearfield, the long-term collaboration, which began over a decade ago, has already extended fiber connectivity to more than 60% of Hawaiian homes, spanning all major islands and overcoming the state’s varied and challenging topography.
The initiative, detailed today in a release on Clearfield’s website, represents a $1.7 billion investment, supported by approximately $107 million in federal and state broadband infrastructure funding, and aims to deliver state-of-the-art fiber-to-the-premise service at speeds of up to 3 Gbps.
Hawaiian Telcom currently connects over 400,000 homes and businesses, with plans to reach 475,000 residences by the year’s end and complete network buildout across Hawaii’s islands by late 2026, the release stated.
Recent milestones in the effort have included the completion of fiber installations in Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i in 2023, with Kaua‘i anticipated to be fully connected by February, Maui by years-end, and both O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island targeted for completion in the final phase.
Clearfield’s announcement also described the crucial role they’ve played in the endeavor, contributing over 1,000 passive optical network (PON) cabinets and custom fiber distribution solutions tailored to Hawaii’s unique geographical conditions.
Additionally, the project prioritizes digital equity and community impact, focusing on connecting underserved and remote areas first. Meanwhile, Hawaiian Telcom’s community-focused approach includes linking all public schools and libraries statewide and extending fiber services to residents on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands properties, the release stated.
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