UK’s Wren House Infrastructure to buy i3 Broadband of Illinois
Wren House Infrastructure Management Ltd., a UK-based captive global infrastructure investment manager, says it has agreed to acquire Illinois fiber to the home (FTTH) based broadband supplier i3 Broadband from current owners Seaport Capital and Countrywide Broadband. Terms of the deal, including the expected closing date, were not disclosed.
i3 supplies gigabit broadband as well as video and voice services to residential and commercial customers in Central Illinois. It also serves some markets in the East Bay of Rhode Island, thanks to a 2018 acquisition (see “CountryWide Broadband Group buys RI's Full Channel Cable”). Wren says that its investments will not only support i3’s current FTTH networks but expansions into other states.
"i3 is committed to providing local communities with access to the most reliable, high-speed broadband connectivity available. These services are more critical than ever, allowing residents to easily e-learn and work-from-home, and communities to grow. Wren House's investment will allow us to expand our network and enhance our services, all while remaining committed to our customer-first culture," said Dan Kennedy, CEO of i3 Broadband. "We are excited to have Wren House as our partner in this next chapter of i3's growth, and Sam Valencia, executive vice president and CFO, and I are pleased to be major investors in this new venture."
"i3 is perfectly positioned to meet the growing demand for reliable, high-speed connectivity to homes and businesses. i3 has built an impressive fiber network and cultivated strong customer relationships throughout their local markets. We are excited to partner with i3's exceptional management team to accelerate the Company's growth, while continuing to deliver category-leading service to i3's communities," said Hakim Drissi, CEO of Wren House.
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About the Author
Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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