Fiber Optics
Baraboo, Wis., turns to HDD, HDPE conduit for emergency fiber network
In Baraboo, Wis., HDD and HDPE conduit played a critical role in expanding the city’s emergency fiber network. Local manufacturer Teel Plastics supplied 12,000 feet of conduit for a fire and EMS project, keeping the installation on schedule and protecting the city’s historic downtown.
220 miles of new fiber coming to Sullivan County, N.Y., in $29.9 million project
Archtop Fiber has started a $29.9 million broadband expansion in Sullivan County, N.Y., installing 220 miles of underground fiber to connect more than 22,000 homes and businesses by 2026.
Comcast expands fiber broadband rollout with Harmonic technology
Comcast is expanding its fiber broadband network with Harmonic’s cOS platform, enabling multi-gigabit speeds, low latency, and cost-effective rollouts, including in rural communities through BEAD projects.
New York moves forward with $636 million broadband plan to close digital divide
New York is investing $636 million to expand broadband statewide, connecting 54,000 unserved homes and businesses with fiber, wireless, and satellite under the ConnectALL program.
Lumos starts 3,000-mile fiber build in Chicagoland
Lumos has broken ground on a 3,000-mile fiber network build in Illinois, bringing high-speed internet to nearly 300,000 Chicagoland homes and businesses.
Arizona strikes 20-year agreement with Cox for 141-mile fiber line
Arizona signed a 20-year agreement with Cox Communications to lease 141 miles of fiber along I-17, expanding rural broadband access and supporting schools, libraries, and homes under the state’s ConnectAllAZ initiative.
Texas Critical Data Centers to build 1,600-mile underground fiber network with GlobeLink
New Era Energy & Digital’s Texas Critical Data Centers (TCDC) have signed an MOU with GlobeLink Holdings to build a 1,600-mile fiber optic network across Texas. The project will deliver next-gen connectivity to support AI, hyperscale and cloud infrastructure.
Blue Owl takes majority stake in Dallas-based Gigabit Fiber to fuel network expansion
Blue Owl Capital has taken a majority stake in Dallas-based Gigabit Fiber to accelerate its fiber network expansion across Texas and New Mexico, targeting data center and AI-driven demand.
ASCE gives U.S. broadband infrastructure C+ rating
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released its inaugural assessment of broadband as part of its “2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure,” giving it a C+ grade, which aligns with the nation's overall infrastructure rating of C.
Bonatti to lead pipeline EPC work for Pacifico Mexinol project
Transition Industries has signed a contract with Bonatti for critical infrastructure on the Pacifico Mexinol project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Bonatti will perform detailed engineering, procurement, construction, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and startup for the methanol transfer and vapor recovery underground pipelines and dual fiber optic cables between the Methanol main process plant and the Mexinol port site.
Study says 2.3x more fiber needed to support U.S. AI by 2029
The Fiber Broadband Association has published results from research performed by RVA LLC, emphasizing that 2.3x more fiber is needed in the U.S. to support AI performance, scalability and security.
Fiber optic installation completed at Newark airport, says Transportation Secretary
Construction on a new fiber optic line to support the air traffic control system that serves Newark Liberty International Airport has been completed, NJ.com reported. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the project completion in a statement Thursday.
Utility worker shot while installing fiber-optic cable in Texas neighborhood
A 19-year-old utility worker was shot multiple times while installing fiber-optic cable in a Magnolia, Texas neighborhood, authorities say.
Astound to build $34 million fiber-optic network in Orland Park, Ill.
Astound Broadband has begun a $34 million project to extend 285 miles of underground fiber-optic cable across Orland Park and nearby suburbs, the company said June 24.
Fiber drives HDD growth as big-rig pipeline work returns
Underground Infrastructure's 27th Annual HDD Survey shows strong fiber-driven growth for small and mid-sized drill rigs, while large rig activity is rebounding as pipeline work picks back up across the U.S. Contractors remain optimistic, despite continued labor pressures and rising competition.
Fiber optic installed to improve air traffic communication in Northeast U.S., DOT announces
According to CNN, a fiber optic cable has been installed between Philadelphia and New York in an effort to improve air traffic control issues in the busy region. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the update at a press conference on Wednesday. Telecommunications at the facility that handles flights in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport have been strained in part due to aging air traffic control infrastructure.
Subsite launches M10 beacon for underground utility installation
Contractors can more easily and reliably run short shots of fiber lines and other underground utilities using the new M10 HDD guidance beacon from Subsite. The M10 beacon is designed for use with compact Ditch Witch horizontal directional drills (HDDs) like the JT5 and small drills from other manufacturers.
Fiber optics and forests: Mosaic Technologies weaves fiber beneath Wisconsin’s Northwoods
In the forests of Northwest Wisconsin, Mosaic Technologies is laying nearly 400 miles of fiber to connect over 2,500 addresses, overcoming rugged terrain and tight deadlines to bring high-speed internet to remote communities.
Bridging the digital divide: Fiber installation brings innovation to the Pennsylvania Turnpike
In Pennsylvania, a groundbreaking fiber optic installation along the Turnpike is tackling two challenges at once: expanding the state’s digital backbone and closing the broadband gap in rural communities. With innovative micro-trenching methods and all-season materials, the project is on track to deliver 325 miles of new connectivity infrastructure by 2026.
City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
In a recent Albuquerque City Council meeting, officials put forth a resolution to stop all fiber optic construction in the city, amid growing complaints from residents about damage and disruption due to improper installation by fiber optic contractors.
Las Vegas, Nev., dark fiber project underway as LSC expands network for AI, data centers
Light Source Communications (LSC) has started construction on a 60-mile dark fiber network in Las Vegas, marking its third major project in less than a year.
NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
The U.S. National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) has published a preliminary report concerning a fatal gas pipeline explosion that occurred last month in Lexington, Missouri. The explosion occurred after a subcontractor installing a fiber optic line drilled into an unmarked section of a capped underground gas distribution main located near residences.
Ripple Fiber breaks ground on $140 million project, expanding into central Mass.
Ripple Fiber has begun construction on the first phase of its $140 million Central Massachusetts project. The Southeast U.S. provider anticipates construction to begin soon in the neighboring Town of West Boylston. Between Holden and West Boylston, over 9,000 households will receive access to Ripple Fiber’s network. Ripple Fiber aims for its first Massachusetts customers to begin using the new fiber internet service by mid-2025.
Vero completes first phase of fiber installation in Evans, Colo., expanding underground network
Vero Fiber completed phase 1 of its fiber internet expansion in Evans, Colorado, bringing high-speed service to more than 1,500 customers. City officials praised the project as a major win for residents.
C3ntro to install over 1,500 miles of fiber optic network connecting U.S. and Mexico
C3ntro Telecom on Tuesday announced the launch of its Tikva Project. Through Tikva, an approximately 1,553-mile (2,500-kilometer) underground fiber optic network will be installed between Phoenix, Az., and Querétaro, Mexico, representing an ambitious step in cross-border connectivity.
Southern Telecom secures 300-mile fiber contract with hyperscale customer
Southern Telecom, a subsidiary of Southern Company, has secured its largest fiber deal to date, a monumental 300-mile fiber contract with a strategic hyperscale customer. The new route will connect a major data center in Montgomery, Ala., to both Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta.
S.C. Senate considers passing bill to address repeated damage to gas and water lines
Senate members in South Carolina are considering a bill that would address utility strikes that have disrupted local communities. The bill, which would tighten rules on digging in public right-of-ways, passed the House of Representatives in February, but is still awaiting hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee, The State reported.
Kinetic to install over 330 miles of fiber optic infrastructure in Texas community
Kinetic recently broke ground on a strategic $13 million high-speed fiber internet expansion that will connect over 22,000 households in Fort Bend County, Texas. The project is part of a $2 billion multiyear investment strategy by Kinetic to dramatically expand multi-gigabit fiber service across the company’s 18-state footprint.
Astound completes 108-mile underground fiber build along Oregon’s Highway 6
Astound Broadband has finished constructing a 108-mile underground fiber route along Highway 6, delivering high-speed internet access to rural areas of Tillamook County for the first time.
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.
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- OSHA investigates fatal trench collapse at Conroe construction site
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
- Alaska fiber buildout to expand broadband in rural communities
- 11-mile Texas pipeline replacement upgrades 72-in. PCCP to 102-in. steel