State rep. hopes new Western MA network 'will help to lower costs' for Pioneer Valley community

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Gateway Fiber has announced an expansion into Western Massachusetts, backed by a multimillion-dollar investment that will bring the company’s services to Northampton.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

A new fiber network that will soon be under construction in Western Massachusetts will help provide relief for lower income residents by adding another choice to the local market, according to a state representative serving the community where the network will be built.

State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, of Northampton, called Gateway Fiber’s announcement an exciting moment for Northampton. Sabadosa’s comments, included in the company’s April release, drew attention to the Gateway Fiber’s “substantial investment” in Northampton.

“This investment will help to lower costs, which is especially important for our lower-income residents and residents on fixed income, while also offering reliable internet service,” Sabadosa said. “I’m very grateful that Northampton was selected, as this will be a net positive for our residents.”

According to Gateway Fiber, the company’s Western Massachusetts expansion, which will offer download speeds of 2 Gbps per second, comes at a good time.

“Gateway Fiber’s expansion into Northampton aligns with the growing demand for high-speed internet access in areas of Western Massachusetts traditionally served by slower, outdated legacy networks such as cable, DSL, and 5G,” the company’s announcement stated.

Northampton, part of the Pioneer Valley, is located along the Connecticut River and in close proximity to the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Gateway Fiber expects to begin construction on the network this summer and will be opening an office location in the area this spring. Company leaders hope to begin connecting their first customers in Northampton by the fall, the Gateway Fiber’s announcement stated.

“We are excited to bring an improved internet option and our relentless focus on the customer to Northampton,” said Gateway Fiber CEO Heath Sellenriek. “We’re confident our reliable product, outstanding customer service, and simple, transparent pricing will be a breath of fresh air compared to the legacy cable company options.”