Brightspeed says that it will pass more than 190,000 addresses with fiber in Pennsylvania, with the first phase reaching 40,000 addresses by the end of next year.
That phase of the project will bring service to Cumberland, Lancaster and York counties. Brightspeed says that it will work with the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority to use state and federal grant programs to expand deployments further.
“We believe that broadband is a thread that connects us all together,” Chris Creager, Chief Administration Officer of Brightspeed said in the press release. “Our common experiences over the last couple of years have further magnified the importance of a reliable internet connection to empower people and businesses to participate and thrive in the digital economy, healthcare infrastructure, and education system.”
Brightspeed says it will spend $2 billion to reach 3 million homes and businesses during the next five years. It will feature XGS-PON technology that will offer symmetrical speeds of more than 10 Gbps. Wi-Fi 6 also will be offered.
The company is awaiting closing of a deal under which Apollo-managed funds will buy the assets and associated operations of Lumen Technologies. The properties to be transferred are in 20 states, and regulatory approvals in each have been secured. Approvals from the FCC are expected this quarter and the closing of the deal is expected during the fourth quarter.
Brightspeed’s announcements feature short-term goals – slated for completion by the end of 2023 — and longer-term goals:
- Earlier this month, Brightspeed said it will pass 28,000 addresses in Louisiana during the next few years. Half of them will be completed during the first phase.
- In May, Brightspeed said it would pass 130,000 addresses in the Commonwealth of Virginia during the next few years, with 60,000 of those completed during the first phase.
- Also in May, Brightspeed said it would pass 800,000 homes and businesses in its home state of North Carolina during the next few years. It aims to complete the first 300,000 of those during the first phase.
In all, Brightspeed plans to pass 1 million addresses by the end of 2023
