On Nov. 30, Atlantic Broadband announced a major growth plan that will extend fiber services into communities not previously served by the company. The operator said in a statement it will invest $82 million in its current fiscal year to extend its reach to nearly 70,000 additional homes and businesses, providing Gigabit internet, home WiFi, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) and voice services via advanced fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology.
Atlantic Broadband reports that franchise agreements have been obtained or are underway in multiple communities in New Hampshire and West Virginia, including the cities of Concord, Dover and Somersworth and the towns of Durham and Madbury in New Hampshire, as well as the cities of Westover and Morgantown, and the towns of Granville and Star City in West Virginia. The operator said it will connect residential and business customers in these communities with best-in-class services.
“We are grateful to the communities that have received our franchise applications with such enthusiasm, as consumers in these locations will soon have a new choice in providers,” said Frank van der Post, President of Atlantic Broadband. “We look forward to serving these communities by delivering superfast internet, cloud-based TV, and a phenomenal customer experience as we pursue our high-growth plans.”
The first customer activations in the new initiative are expected in early 2022. As construction is completed throughout the year in each of the locations, Atlantic Broadband will notify local residents of its planned schedule for activation by neighborhood.
“Our community benefits when there are good choices of providers and services,” said Robin Comstock, Economic Development Manager for the City of Somersworth, New Hampshire, which in June approved the grant of franchise for Atlantic Broadband to begin providing service in the city. “The state-of-the-art fiber infrastructure will provide a new option for residential and business members of our community, help drive economic vitality and keep us ahead of the technological curve.”
The expansion initiative follows Atlantic Broadband’s acquisition in September of the cable systems of Wide Open West (WOW!) in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, which added nearly 690,000 serviceable households and businesses to the company’s footprint.