Building Broadband: Brightspeed lights six new Ohio counties with fiber internet; Ripple Fiber’s new Holden, Massachusetts network to reach 11K homes

Brightspeed lights six new Ohio counties with fiber internet
Brightspeed has completed its fiber network build in six Ohio counties: Crawford, Defiance, Erie, Holmes, Morgan and Putnam. In Van Wert County, the Brightspeed fiber build has entered the final phase of construction. Nearly 37,000 families and businesses in those counties now can access Brightspeed’s gigabit fiber service. To date, over 231,000 Ohio locations are fiber-enabled. When Brightspeed’s statewide buildout is complete, nearly 429,000 homes and businesses will have access to its multi-gig fiber internet service. Complementing its private investment, Brightspeed was awarded $13.8 million in funding from the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant (ORBEG) program funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the Broadband Expansion Authority and BroadbandOhio to extend its planned fiber network build by more than 8,300 miles across the company’s footprint in the state.

Ripple Fiber’s new Holden, Massachusetts network to reach 11K homes
Ripple Fiber has launched fiber broadband service in Holden, Massachusetts, continuing its aggressive build-out strategy. After breaking ground in May 2025, the provider plans to bring fiber internet access to over 11,000 households in areas of Worcester County, including the towns of Holden and West Boylston. Residents who are ready to upgrade their in-home network but have yet to pre-order Ripple Fiber service can schedule an installation appointment online or by phone. According to a March 2025 report by Reviews.org, 55 percent of Massachusetts lacks access to future-proof fiber internet. Construction in parts of Holden and West Boylston continues, with updates on additional areas of Worcester, Norfolk and Bristol Counties to be announced in the coming months. Following the recent opening of Ripple Fiber’s local retail office in nearby Clinton, the provider plans to open an additional location in Bristol County in early 2026.

Shentel extends fiber broadband to over 3K Campbell County, VA locations
Shentel expanded its gigabit internet service to nearly 3,300 additional homes in Campbell County, Virginia and plans to add about 200 more by the end of the month. This $20 million construction project is partly funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s nationally recognized Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) run by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The rest of the funding comes from Shentel’s own capital investment and a contribution from Campbell County.

Surf Internet adds Sparta, Michigan to its fiber broadband community roster
Surf Internet has made its fiber internet service available to over 1,200 homes in Sparta, part of the company’s growing presence in Kent County. In Sparta, Surf’s fiber service includes speeds up to 2 Gig, with no contracts, unlimited data, and a price-lock guarantee. Plans are designed to support everything from working and learning at home to streaming, video conferencing, and gaming—all with the reliability of a fiber connection. Residents can visit surfinternet.com to check availability at their address.

Tillman Fiber unveils $40M open access plan for Collier County, Florida
Tillman Fiber will invest $40 million to build an open-access fiber network in Collier County. Designed to scale with demand, Tillman’s fiber network will provide residents with more reliable service during storms and the capacity to handle growing data needs. Besides providing a better internet experience, Tillman Fiber is committed to hiring and developing a local workforce. Tillman aims to create meaningful career opportunities in fiber installation, engineering, and network operations. Construction began in July 2025 and will be completed in phases to ensure that residents can begin experiencing the benefits next year. Once completed, the fiber network will allow residents to choose a provider using Tillman’s network.

UnWired Broadband breaks ground on Wasco, CA fiber network
UnWired Broadband has begun installing customers on its NextGen Fiber Internet network in Wasco, CA. Once complete, their $10 million investment will deliver Internet speeds up to 5 Gbps to the entire City of Wasco, totaling nearly 6,000 addresses. Construction is slated to continue throughout the rest of 2025, with an expected completion date of February 2026. Based in Fresno, unWired has been bridging the digital divide across Central and Northern California since 2003. The company has fully deployed its fiber network Coalinga, serving over 1,500 customers. Construction is also underway in Parlier and Gustine, with additional fiber projects planned soon.