Astound Broadband has acquired FastMesh Internet, a provider of Wi-Fi to multiple dwelling units (MDUs) in the Pacific Northwest. Astound Broadband powered by Wave is the west coast operating unit of Astound Broadband.
FastMesh provides service to more than 130 MDUs in Seattle and Portland. The company has thousands of end users, according to a press release. The release does not include price information on the deal, which is effective immediately.
Astound’s goal is to use the FastMesh technology to market Wi-Fi to the MDUs in all Astound markets. FastMesh is installed at no cost to MDU management or owners and is positioned by Astound as an important amenity to attract tenants. End users sign up from their computers. No modems, routers or technician visits are necessary. Pricing is “flat” and “designed for high density apartment living,” Astound said.
FastMesh employees have transitioned to Astound, with founder and CEO Sam Tolui assuming the role of Vice President of Wireless Access.
“FastMesh’s wireless internet access provides unique and powerful flexibility that complements Astound’s existing fiber network perfectly,” Jared Sonne, Astound Broadband powered by Wave’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, said in a press release. “The ease and versatility that wireless brings for both MDU building owners and residents are compelling and we look forward to making these services available to an expanded footprint of markets and buildings.”
In January, Astound Broadband became the brand consolidating RCN, Grande, Wave, enTouch and Digital West. It is owned by investment firm Stonepeak, which acquired the company for $8.1 billion. In all, the service provider has 31,000 route miles of fiber and serves residential and business customers in Chicago, Indiana, eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas and parts of California, Oregon and Washington.
