Metro Communications to acquire Clearwave Fiber’s Southern Illinois network
SULLIVAN, Ill. (UI) — Metro Communications has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Clearwave Fiber’s Southern Illinois operations, expanding its regional fiber network and broadband footprint across downstate Illinois.
The acquisition includes Clearwave’s Southern Illinois fiber network and associated backhaul agreements from CableOne, Inc. Built over the past 15 years, Clearwave’s system provides critical fiber connectivity for backhaul, public safety, education, and residential broadband across multiple communities in the region.
“The Clearwave team has a long tradition of building and providing reliable network and most importantly, of serving customers across Southern Illinois,” said Zak Horn, CEO of Metro Communications. “The origins of Clearwave and Metro as early rural fiber CLECs are an ideal foundation on which to continue building Enterprise and FTTH services. Businesses and consumers demand reliability and value from their chosen communications provider, and this transaction will support our efforts to better deliver on that promise through scale and an experienced team of professionals.”
Combined, the Metro and Clearwave networks will serve over 1,000 on-net towers, thousands of businesses, and more than 250,000 individual locations across downstate Illinois. Metro said it plans additional capital investments to expand its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services in existing and new Southern Illinois markets.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval. Following the acquisition, Metro will integrate back-office systems and field operations to improve network efficiency and customer service.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisor, and DLA Piper LLP (US) provided legal counsel to Metro Communications.
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