Building Broadband: Dobson Fiber commits to fiber internet expansions in four additional Oklahoma communities; Greenlight Networks to expand its Northeast Pennsylvania fiber build

Dobson Fiber commits to fiber internet expansions in four additional Oklahoma communities
Dobson Fiber has named four additional Oklahoma communities as its next fiber internet expansion targets with groundbreakings in Canute, Foss, Headrick and Keota, Oklahoma. Residents can visit dobson.net to check service availability, register their address and receive updates when construction is complete and installations begin. Dobson Fiber currently serves 52 communities across Oklahoma and five communities in Arkansas. The company continues to expand its fiber broadband network in both rural and urban areas, delivering internet speeds up to 10 Gbps for residential customers and up to 100G for business customers. By leveraging its 6,500-mile high-capacity optical middle-mile network and peering relationships, Dobson Fiber provides low-latency connectivity designed to meet the growing demands of homes and businesses.

Greenlight Networks to expand its Northeast Pennsylvania fiber build
Greenlight Networks is set to accelerate the construction of its fiber internet network across Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and surrounding Northeast Pennsylvania communities in 2026. Backed by an investment of more than $24 million, this latest expansion deepens the company’s regional presence. With nearly 42,500 households and businesses now able to connect to Greenlight’s network in Northeast Pennsylvania—and several thousand more to come online by the end of the year—Greenlight’s expansion across Wilkes-Barre and continued buildout throughout Scranton mark a significant step in delivering high-speed connectivity to the region. This latest expansion builds upon Greenlight’s 2025 acquisition of Loop Internet, which now operates as Greenlight Networks. Loop’s network footprint complemented Greenlight’s current and planned service areas while providing a critical base of operations in Scranton, along with experienced personnel and local resources. The acquisition strengthened Greenlight’s operations in Northeast Pennsylvania, adding more than 50 local employees and expanding its on-the-ground support to enhance the customer experience further. Construction is progressing in phases across Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, Drums, Hazleton, Kingston and Mountain Top.

IdeaTek acquires Velocity, expanding fiber and wireless service across South-Central Kansas
IdeaTek Telcom, a Kansas-based fiber internet provider, has acquired Velocity, the high-speed internet division of Butler Electric Cooperative. Headquartered in El Dorado, the acquisition expands IdeaTek’s fiber and wireless footprint across south-central Kansas. By purchasing Velocity, IdeaTek extends its fiber service to the communities of Rose Hill and El Dorado, along with wireless coverage across Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick, Cowley, Marion, Greenwood and Chase counties. IdeaTek plans to introduce its 8 Gbps residential service, featuring unlimited data and no contracts, giving residents access to an even faster connection, and to continue its investment in fiber infrastructure in rural areas currently served by Velocity’s wireless service. To complement its fiber expansion, IdeaTek will use Tarana wireless technology. This equipment allows IdeaTek to deliver wireless speeds of up to 1 Gbps, ensuring that even the most remote residents in the service area — where fiber may not yet reach — have access to gigabit-level connectivity. Having closed the acquisition in February, IdeaTek will begin the integration process immediately to ensure a seamless transition for all Velocity customers.

Ripple Fiber advances Massachusetts growth, targeting Haverhill for next fiber build
Ripple Fiber has made Haverhill, Massachusetts, its latest fiber build target. More than 10,000 homes and businesses are included in the current build, with construction expected to begin in the coming months. The service provider anticipates launching its service later this year. As part of its partnership with Haverhill, Ripple Fiber will provide free internet service to all of Haverhill’s municipally owned buildings, while designing its local network to ensure all Haverhill residents gain access to its fiber network. To better support local customers, Ripple Fiber will also maintain a presence within the city. In December 2025, Ripple Fiber announced plans for nearby Merrimac, marking its expansion into Essex County with efforts to continue growing a presence throughout the state. Construction is currently underway in Merrimac, Holden, and West Boylston, with active service available in parts of Holden and West Boylston. Additionally, Ripple Fiber will soon celebrate the opening of its new office in Clinton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Spectrum brings its gigabit broadband service to Jefferson County, Tennessee
Spectrum launched Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to 1,230 homes and small businesses in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The multi-year rural construction initiative is driven by more than $7 billion in private investment from Spectrum. It will ultimately add 100,000+ miles of fiber-optic network infrastructure and deliver symmetrical, multi-gigabit-speed internet access to more than 1.7 million new locations nationwide. Spectrum Internet delivers speeds up to 1 Gbps and Advanced Wi-Fi for residential and small-business customers, featuring starting speeds of 500 Mbps, with no modem fees, data caps, or contracts. Customers can get 1 Gbps download speeds, with 500 Mbps and 750 Mbps options. The company has also begun a network evolution that will provide gigabit upstream speeds and multiple gigabit download speeds across its entire 41-state service area.