Fiber Optics
California fast-tracks underground utility rebuild after Los Angeles fires
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to accelerate the rebuilding of critical underground utility systems in fire-damaged areas of Los Angeles County, including Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades.
Ripple Fiber to invest $200 million for fiber optics construction, expansion in Michigan
Ripple Fiber first announced its plans to enter the Michigan market in September 2024. Now, Ripple Fiber will reach $200 million in investment capital to continue expanding digital access across the region, with construction in Midland. Mich., to begin April 7, 2025.
Editor’s Log: Old problems, redux
In this month’s Editor’s Log, Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter delves into the growing tension between fiber optic installations and aging underground infrastructure in Katy, Texas. As the city halts fiber projects over repeated water line strikes, Carpenter explores the broader implications for utility safety, contractor responsibility, and the need for better locating practices nationwide.
Lumos to install over 1,200 miles of fiber optic, expanding into Indiana
Lumos has announced its inaugural expansion into Indiana, with plans to build over 1,200 miles of fiber optic infrastructure aimed at providing 100% fiber optic internet service to homes and small businesses in the area.
Los Alamos, N.M., hit by second network outage after fiber line breaks during construction
For the second time in a week, Los Alamos, N.M., experienced a network outage on March 17 after construction crews accidentally severed fiber lines along NM-4.
Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
Intrepid Fiber Networks has begun construction on a fiber broadband network in Superior, Colorado, marking a major step toward expanding high-speed internet access in the region.
Trump administration to shift funding, preference away from fiber optics infrastructure
According to TechSpot, the Trump administration has announced significant changes to the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program that could redirect substantial funding towards non-fiber technologies, such as Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, and divert preference and funding away from fiber optics infrastructure.
Katy, Texas passes moratorium on fiber-optics projects after damage to water lines
According to The Houston Chronicle, city council in Katy, Texas has unanimously voted to pass a moratorium on fiber-optics projects after construction damage has repeatedly broken water lines. Fiber optics companies will now be required to sign a contract and coordinate with the city before digging.
Texas infrastructure stuck at ‘C’ as energy, water systems struggle
The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has given the state’s infrastructure a cumulative grade of ‘C’ in its 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card—unchanged from 2021.
Lumos expands fiber-optic internet to Florida with 7,500-mile network
Lumos is expanding its 100% fiber-optic internet service to Florida, investing in nearly 7,500 miles of infrastructure to connect over 30 communities.
Fiber broadband deployment costs stabilizing, report finds
The Fiber Broadband Association’s latest Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report, conducted by Cartesian, shows that broadband service providers expect fiber deployment costs to remain steady or rise slightly—less than 10%—compared to 2024. This marks an improvement from the previous year’s study, which reported steeper cost increases.
Lumos to lay over 1,300 miles of fiber optic in Birmingham, Ala. metro area
Lumos has announced its inaugural expansion into Alabama, its sixth state of operation. This expansion will lay over 1,300 miles of fiber, providing reliable, high-speed internet to underserved communities and families throughout the Birmingham Metro.
National OnDemand expands in Texas with J. Tucker Construction acquisition
National OnDemand, a communication and utility infrastructure services provider, has acquired J. Tucker Construction, a Greenville, Texas-based company specializing in telecom and utility infrastructure.
Bandwidth IG expands fiber network by 170 miles in Greater Atlanta
Bandwidth IG (BIG), a growing provider of purpose-built fiber infrastructure, has launched a 170-mile expansion to its fiber network in the Greater Atlanta area. The expansion will double BIG's fiber footprint, increasing its total coverage in Georgia to over 330 miles.
IQ Fiber acquires ThinkBig to expand fiber-optics across Chesapeake Bay region
IQ Fiber, a Jacksonville, Florida based provider of 100% fiber-optic internet service, announces it has completed the acquisition of ThinkBig Networks, LLC, a Maryland-based 100% fiber-optic internet service provider.
Crown Electrokinetics secures $8M in fiber optic purchase orders for Oregon region
Crown Electrokinetics has announced that its Fiber Optics division has been issued multiple Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) purchase orders with an approximate value of $8 million by a leading regional fiber-optic internet provider, further broadening its footprint in Oregon.
Gigapower’s Arizona fiber rollout linked to infrastructure damage, CWA report says
In Mesa, Arizona, where Gigapower began fiber deployment in early 2023, subcontractors have reportedly caused over 40 underground utility hits, including damages to electric, gas, water, and telecommunications lines, totaling more than $135,000 in repairs.
Fiber Broadband Association, Frontier study estimates $3 trillion value in U.S. fiber deployment
Frontier, in partnership with the Fiber Broadband Associated (FBA), today published a new study that finds deploying fiber in the U.S. could generate an estimated $3.24 trillion in economic impact by increasing housing values, lifting average household income and creating jobs.
Underground fire disrupts fiber optic networks, closes key Baltimore facilities
An underground fire in downtown Baltimore led to a manhole explosion and disrupted critical fiber optic networks over the weekend, affecting thousands.
Tachus Fiber celebrates 50,000 customers on 3,000-mile network in North Houston
Tachus has grown rapidly over the last five years to offer lightning-fast and incredibly reliable broadband services to more than 160,000 homes and businesses in a vast arc across the North Houston communities of Atascocita, Conroe, Huffman, Humble, Kingwood, Porter, Willis, and The Woodlands with current construction ongoing in the other Houston area communities.
IQ Fiber to deploy fiber optic network in Georgia on over $50 million investment
IQ Fiber's expansion into Savannah marks its third major market, following successful deployments in the Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida metro areas.
Ripple Fiber to expand fiber optic service to 60,000 Michigan residents
Ripple Fiber anticipates the start of construction to take place in the coming months and aims to begin launching service for over 60,000 Wayne County residents by 2025, while continuing to actively explore expansion opportunities in the surrounding area. This milestone marks Ripple Fiber’s entrance into the Midwest region.
altafiber expands Northeast Ohio fiber optic network to 100,000 new addresses
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.
Fermaca Networks finds critical sponsor for first phase of Mexican fiber optic route
The Phase 1 route will run fully underground, parallel to existing natural gas systems in some sections, and will follow highway routes in others, aiming at optimizing asset security and performance.
Arelion connects Mexico’s top digital hub to underground fiber network amid expansion
This network expansion reduces the risk of service outages and improves customer experiences, supporting content localization in Querétaro. This new route also offers end-to-end connectivity on Arelion's fiber backbone to markets such as Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley, Dallas and Atlanta.
Frontier to expand fiber broadband network across California with over $23 million in grants
The three grants from the California Public Utility Commission will enable the company to expand its fiber-optic network in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Alaska Communications to extend 9,100-mile fiber network with $390 million infrastructure financing
Alaska Communications is currently developing a network that spans 9,100 miles of fiber, connecting business and wholesale customers throughout the state. The company has plans to further extend its critical infrastructure to enhance connectivity in Alaska.
Siksika Nation selects Cross Cut Directional Boring for fiber optic rollout
Cross Cut Directional Boring LTD has been selected as the contractor for the project, which includes building a backbone network and installing residential service cables. Vacuum excavator trucks will be used to locate existing underground utilities.
Lumos to build over 1,300 miles of fiber optic network in Kentucky with $150 million investment
Through Lumos’ 100% Fiber-Optic Internet, the following communities in Louisville and Jefferson County will have access to the internet with equally fast upload and download speeds: Jeffersontown, Saint Matthews, Shively, Lyndon, Middletown, Douglas Hills, Hurstbourne, Prospect, Graymoor-Devondale, Anchorage and other areas in the Louisville Metro.
Kinetic launches investigation into underground fiber optic cable theft in Hazard, Ky.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the vandalism took place Aug. 8-9, affecting fiber-optic infrastructure that supports local communications services. The incident not only disrupted communication but also posed safety risks to the community by limiting access to emergency services and other vital operations that rely on constant connectivity.
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes