FTTH Top 100
Broadband Communities now presents the next 25 companies to be included in our four-part series featuring the FTTH Top 100 in 2024.
Last week, Broadband Communities introduced the first 25 companies of the FTTH Top 100 list for 2024.
Broadband Communities now presents the next 25 companies listed, ranked in no particular order, to be featured in our Fiber-To-The-Home Top 100. The list features organizations that have either deployed networks that have innovative business plans, intended to transform local economies or improve quality of life, or those that have introduced innovative technologies with game-changing potential, even if they have not yet been commercially deployed.
Companies that have supplied critical hardware, software, or services to deployers, and companies that provided critical conditions for fiber builds, such as advocacy or demand aggregation, have also been considered.
Here are the next 25 companies to be included in the Broadband Communities FTTH Top 100 in 2024.
26.) Great Plains Communications
Known as GPC, Great Plains Communications operates a growing, privately-owned 18,000+ mile fiber network that reaches 13 states. Beginning last fall, GPC began construction to approximately 20,000 new locations after accepting funds offered under expansion of a Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) program. The ISP has had strong momentum in Nebraska, where they’ve seized on opportunities provided by federal and state programs, like the Broadband Bridge, Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF), Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) and the Nebraska Capital Funds Project. This spring, the GPC announced successful completion of projects in the Nebraska communities of Gretna, Papillion, Ralston, and Kearney. The company also hopes to extend fiber broadband to another 1,500 Nebraska homes to unserved or underserved locations by the end of the year and has worked to deploy 7,500 miles of new fiber in both Indiana and the Cornhusker State.
27.) WTC
WTC Communications, an ISP based in Kansas, has shown vision with their efforts to cross the digital divide in The Sunflower State. This June, WTC Communications was awarded over $720,000 to deploy 124 public Wi-Fi access points to economically distressed locations in Riley County, according to the announcement from the governor’s office. At the time, the director of broadband development in Kansas said the investment will continue to amplify investments Kansas has made towards closing the state’s digital divide. WTC Fiber has also touted a major expansion project in Manhattan, Kansas. That city, known to many as the home of Kansas State University, has already seen $25 million in investment from WTC, the company announced back in Feburary.
28.) STELLAR Broadband
STELLAR Broadband has become a leader in the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) market over the past two decades. Their recent partnership, forged with DTN Management Company, a property management firm, has only solidified that reputation. As previously reported by Broadband Communities in May, the partnership between Stellar and DTN will provide residents at Newton Place Apartments, located near Michigan State University, with advanced security systems, keyless entry via mobile, and IP video surveillance, along with other residential living solutions. According to STELLAR, the partnership will also provide residents at Newton Place Apartments with 10-gigabit fiber Internet and comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage.
29.) OzarksGo
This spring, OzarksGo celebrated the company’s forty-thousandth customer to be connected to OzarksGo’s high-speed fiber optic network. The ISP has also worked to expand their fiber footprint to residential and commercial customers beyond the Ozarks Electric territory, in places like Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma. The company, a subsidiary of the Ozarks Electric Cooperative, has also been instrumental in connecting agricultural facilities in the region, and has expanded services to 154 chicken houses across 16 farms operated by Green County Farms, based in Westville Oklahoma. Their growth earns them a spot on the FTTH Top 100 in 2024.
30.) Astound Broadband
In June, Astound Broadband announced the launch of Astound 5 Gig, the company’s new symmetrical 5 Gigabit service offering available for residents and small businesses. The service, supported by eero’s mesh Wi-Fi 7 system, was built to accommodate up to 200 devices at a time, according to Astound’s June 18 announcement. Initial markets for the technology will include areas of Maryland, Illinois, Texas, New York City, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, California, according to Astound. In addition, the ISP has launched “a broad partnership with Habitat for Humanity to support affordable homeownership in communities within Astound’s service footprint,” according to an April release from Astound, showcasing the company’s commitment to development and giving back in the communities they serve.
31.) Tarana
Tarana Wireless, a firm with a mission to “accelerate the deployment of fast, affordable internet access around the world” has done exactly that in tribal lands like the Navajo Nation and Osage County’s underserved and indigenous communities in Oklahoma. The company, a creator of fixed-wireless technology, has entered partnerships with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the Osage Nation, allowing residents in places like Pawhuska access to critical e-learning. Through their efforts with the Navajo Nation, which is the largest indigenous tribe in the United States located across three states in the American Southwest: Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, the company’s ngFWA broadband network has already been launched in communities like Tohatchi, New Mexico, where significant distances between homes has made the prospect of deploying in-ground fiber an extremely costly proposition.
32.) Accelecom
Accelcom describes themselves as a provider of next-generation fiber solutions. The company has made several high-profile announcements in 2024. In January, the company announced it is providing mission critical connectivity to V-Soft Consulting with “a secure and scalable network that can support the headquarters’ growing digital needs.” In February, Accelecom announced it was selected by University of the Cumberlands to provide high speed network connectivity. And in April, Accelecom announced it will provide mission-critical connectivity to Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, supporting the non-profit’s mission of providing job training and placement services to those in need. Big news from Accelecom seems destined to continue through 2024.
33.) DigitalC
Non-profit Cleveland-based provider DigitalC is that city’s choice for internet connectivity and has made crossing digital redlines in Cleveland a top priority. Last fall, Cleveland’s city council approved $20 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support the deployment of a citywide internet network, according to a previous announcement from DigitalC. Earlier that year, DigitalC was selected as Cleveland’s chosen internet provider vendor. Joshua Edmonds, the CEO of DigitalC, previously told Broadband Communities that DigitalC was selected because they submitted the most comprehensive proposal, and because other providers did not want to commit to providing service to all in Cleveland. DigitalC has also been active with the offering of courses and opportunities to increase digital literacy skills for Cleveland residents, preparing the city for full connectivity.
34.) Broadlinc
Broadlinc, a public entity of the Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority, has partnered with Peak Industries, New J and WiFIBER to provide temporary connectivity to a rural corner of Washington State. According to Broadlinc’s June 7 release, the pilot program has made connectivity available to 100 households and the Spokane County Fire District #3, through equipment in the vehicles of first responders. At the time, SCFD3 Deputy Chief Dustin Flock said it would be a game-changer during the summer fire season and provide “the ability to receive emergency call information not available to our units before.” The program, funded by a $4.6 million grant in Spokane County through Broadlinc, involves the use of Cellular on Wheels (COW) semi-fixed towers to provide temporary connectivity to local communities where networks are under construction.
35.) Bluepeak
Bluepeak, a broadband provider owned by GI Data Infrastructure, scored a big win this past winter when the firm disclosed that a global investment firm has made a strategic investment in the company to accelerate the firm’s expansion strategy. The size of the investment, announced Feb. 29, was not disclosed in the company’s release but Bluepeak’s announcement said the investment will accelerate the company’s growth across the Great Plains region. Since being acquired by GI Data Infrastructure in 2021, Bluepeak’s announcement said the Rapid City-based company has built fiber routes that connect to over 140,000 homes across five states. Given recent developments, their growth as a company is likely to continue through the rest of 2024 and into 2025.
36.) Fastwyre Broadband
Fastwyre, a Nebraska-based ISP, has steadily grown the number of the company’s so-called ‘fiber cities’ in Louisiana. Back in November, Leesville, joined other Louisiana communities like DeRidder, Grand Lake, Moss Bluff, Oakdale, and Westlake on the list of communities designated as Fastwyre Broadband’s fiber cities. In March, the company went on to announce that a private investment amounting to over $60 million will bring big city internet speeds to a batch of underserved communities in Missouri. With the announcement, Fastwyre listed areas in the Missouri communities of Sedalia, Warrensburg, Knob Noster, La Monte, and Nevada as those in line to be connected to their fiber network. The company also maintains other fiber networks in Nebraska, Missouri, and Alabama and appears poised to continue building on their momentum in the future.
37.) Pavlov Media
Pavlov Media, a leader in FTTH, has been making significant strides in expanding its services. Recently, the company has focused on enhancing its residential fiber network in Florida, Texas, and Illinois, with a notable recent example being the launch of Gainesville, Florida. Pavlov Media is also continuing to grow its managed Wi-Fi services in multi-family properties. This expansion not only improves connectivity for more customers but also complements their comprehensive service offerings. Their dedication to enhancing FTTH offerings has earned Pavlov Media a well-deserved spot on the FTTH Top 100 list.
38.) Haywire Internet
Haywire Internet has been proactive when it comes to providing connectivity to MDU structures that are difficult to retrofit. In June, inCoax Networks,a Swedish company, was conscripted by Haywire Internet for a coax repurposing project in Indiana at an MDU in in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a result, the MDU’s residents are now served with 2.5 Gbps internet speeds thanks to InCoax’s 5G mmWave Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Extension technology. Modems and access points were strategically placed in each of the MDU’s apartments, according to InCoax, with decisions like placing the MDU’s main controller on the fourth floor instead of the basement, a decision that helped reduce cable lengths required to connect each unit.
39.) InCoax Networks
InCoax Networks, as previously explained in the entry regarding Haywire Internet, has developed 5G mmWave Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Extension technology, which has been cited as a game changer, allowing homes and MDUs passed by networks to be revalued and proven profitable. In a country where only 45 percent of homes passed by fiber-optic cables are being connected, according to a 2023 study by RVA/Fiber Broadband Association, InCoax’s technology has come in handy. According to InCoax, cost-effectively accessing apartments with new cables has been a major factor contributing to the continued digital divide, with deployment costs running too high for many building owners and tenants to accept. “That is why 5G FWA Extension technology that leverages existing property infrastructure should be a no brainer for network operators,” the company’s head of business development previously said. InCoax Networks earns their spot on our list as an innovator addressing a main factor that prevents the bridging of the digital gap.
40.) Ezee Fiber
Ezee Fiber, featured in the 2022 FTTH Top 100, reclaims their spot on the list in 2024. Late last year, the Houston-based ISP announced a $200 million investment into the expansion of their high-speed network in Fort Bend County. The expansion effort, which plans to reach 125,000 locations in the county by the end of 2024, will extend the company’s services into communities like Mission Bend, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pearland, and areas. The investment, which will also fund “a 2,000-mile core network backbone throughout Houston,” according to the firm, provides 5 Gig internet for less than $100 a month. Roughly 1,000 businesses will also be connected upon the project’s completion, which was slated for the end of Q3 in 2024.
41.) Fiber Fast Homes
Fiber Fast Homes, led by CEO Scott Sampson, has become a big player in smart-home connectivity. The company, which now operates in 11 states, according to Sampson. Many of the company’s customers are gained through bulk deals with developers and MDU owners. Sampson has been on the forefront of demanding change from within the industry. In an appearance on the Beyond the Cable podcast earlier this year, Sampson said he wants residential developers to think ahead, not to their kids, or their grandkids, but their grandkids’ kids. Sampson, who has been attempting to educate developers on the importance of building for the future, told Broadband Communities he would have thought younger generations of builders would be more prepared than older builders, but that isn’t the case. Fiber Fast Homes earns their spot on this year’s list due to the company’s appetite for progress advocating for home construction for the future, a prospect that bodes well for Fast Fiber Homes’ future and the developers they work with.
Returning to the FTTH Top 100 for the second year in a row is Blue Mountain Networks, a Oregon-based telecommunications provider. Earlier this year, in February, Blue Mountain Networks announced the completion of a fiber-optic network expansion project in Umatilla, a small city located on the south bank of the Columbia River. At the time, Blue Mountain Networks celebrated the Umatilla project as marking “a substantial investment in the region’s digital infrastructure and signifies Blue Mountain’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art internet connectivity to local communities across the Pacific Northwest.” According to the company, also known as Blue Mountain, the decision to invest in futureproofing communities with high-speed fiber has replaced the company’s former focuses of DSL, wireless, and cable internet services.
43.) Smithville Communications
Smithville, which has built thousands of miles of fiber across more than 20 counties in rural Indiana, operates a network that is worth upward of a quarter of a billion dollars in private equity investment, according to a summary of the ISP’s operations. Just recently, the company doubled down on their commitment to Learning, Development, and Talent initiatives to “improve organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.” The company has also continued converting DSL areas to fiber, with the deployment of nine E3 cabinets throughout their network, which provides homes with a “stronger, more reliable Internet connection,” according to Smithville’s website.
44.) Smartaira
Another company returning to the FTTH Top 100 in 2024 is Smartaira, a fiber-based, community-wide internet solutions provider. In June, Smartaira announced the acquisition of Lux Speed, a Fort Lauderdale-based multifamily internet service provider. The acquisition by Smartaira, headquartered in California, is the company’s fourth since 2021. Shortly after the acquisition was finalized, Lux Speed’s CEO said he was impressed with Smartaira’s leadership, service offerings, and commitment to customers in the multi-tenant space. Smartaira currently operates in 26 states, according to a summary provided by the company.
45.) Learning Alliance
The Learning Alliance Corporation partners with businesses, colleges, and universities to train and equip those interested in joining the broadband and telecommunications industry, especially veterans, people of color, and women. Their approach creates learning solutions based on community-specific goals, staff skill level, and corporate culture. They also provide instructors who specialize in the areas they teach, the corporation’s summary stated. By partnering with employers nationwide, Learning Alliance Corporation has created workshops, labs and simulation programs that align the theoretical concepts with real-world application learning, according to a summary provided to Broadband Communities. As their work has been instrumental in developing the fiber technician workforce, they earn a well-deserved spot on this year’s FTTH Top 100.
46.) Cityside Fiber
Cityside Fiber, a Irvine-based provider of FTTH broadband, has embarked on two projects to expand their fiber network in a pair of Orange County communities located southeast of Los Angeles. The company completed their first network projects last year, with network builds in Tustin and Dana Point. The company plans to begin activating customers to their network in Lake Forest by the second half of the year, a March release from the company stated. Later this year, Cityside Fiber also announced plans to reveal additional cities in Orange County where network expansion projects will occur as they become an emerging player in Southern California’s broadband market.
47.) FiberLight
In February, FiberLight announced that fiber routes from Dallas to two densely populated markets in Mexico will make FiberLight the first company to deliver connectivity to Mexico through an MDC data center in Eagle Pass. The same month, the Georgia-based fiber-infrastructure provider announced a major investment in a planned 100-mile fiber route to facilitate what they hope will become a new economic zone along State Highway 130 near Austin, Texas. Months later, in June, FiberLight announced that an 80-mile-long dark fiber route has been deployed to connect a West Texas school district, bolstering security at local schools. The network, which will serve the Ector County Independent School District based in Odessa, was completed with help from Netsync, a company that specializes in network infrastructure. FiberLight has been an innovator and continues to lead the pack among companies that focus on fiber-infrastructure deployment.
48.) Brightspeed
Brightspeed, which claims to be the nation’s fourth largest builder of fiber broadband, announced a project to connect over 2,600 homes and businesses to the company’s network in Ohio’s Trumbull County back in March. Upon the completion of construction of the network, over 33,000 customers will have access to Brightspeed’s network in Trumbull County, joining the approximately 17,000 potential customers who have access to Brightspeed’s network in Trumbull County. Brightspeed has also announced that construction projects in Mansfield, Ohio, with additional efforts planned for surrounding communities in Richland County, making the company stand out among those seeking to increase access to rural America.
49.) Breezeline
Breezeline, a Massachusetts-based ISP, this year announced plans to complete a 132-mile fiber internet network expansion that will bring fiber to previously unserved areas of King William County in Virginia. The company, a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications, provides internet services in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, according to a summary of the company’s operations. In Virginia, the company’s efforts in King William County are being funded partly by subsidies from the Federal Communication Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and the company is also a participant in the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI), with previously described efforts to extend internet connectivity to nearly 7,500 unserved homes and businesses in Caroline County and Essex County.
50.) Tillman Fiber
Tillman Fiber, headquartered in New York City, previously in March announced a planned network expansion in Florida that will bring the ISP’s gigabit speeds to customers in at least eight cities across the state. The end result of the project, according to Tillman Fiber, will be the deployment of Nokia’s 10 Gigabit XGS-PON to residential and commercial customers. The company’s announcement in March claimed Nokia’s Altiplano SDAN controller will help Tillman “simplify network management and deliver multi-gigabit symmetrical services to businesses and residents.” In addition, Tillman’s announcement reported that the company’s network will serve customers in the Tampa Bay region, the Florida Panhandle, and areas in South Florida, signaling the company is making a major commitment in Florida.
Check back next week on Friday, August 9, for the next installment of the 2024 Broadband Communities FTTH Top 100.
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