Brightspeed says that it will deploy its multi-gigabit fiber broadband network in Illinois and Michigan. In total, the service provider will pass 69,000 addresses over the next several years.
In Illinois, Brightspeed will pass as many as 14,000 addresses in Knox County by the end of next year. It will add 31,000 passings in subsequent years.
In Michigan, Brightspeed will pass more than 10,000 addresses in parts of Chippewa, Monroe, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, and Tuscola counties by the end of next year. The company will pass 14,000 additional addresses during subsequent years.
Sherry Hessenthaler, operations strategy lead for Brightspeed said in a press release that the company will consider state and federal broadband grant programs to extend its infrastructure in both states.
Brightspeed has made numerous similar announcements during the past few months while Apollo managed funds waits to close the acquisition of Lumen Technologies’ ILEC networks and associated assets in 20 states. The states all have given approvals.
The company was awaiting FCC approval, which was given this week. The only hurdle that remains is the closing of the deal, which is expected early in the fourth quarter.
In addition to Michigan and Illinois, Brightspeed has announced its intentions to deploy networks in Kansas, South Carolina, Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Tennessee.
According to Telecompetitor calculations, Brightspeed so far has committed to offering its services to about 2.8 million broadband addresses, with approximately 1.3 million addresses by the end of next year and 1.67 million addresses in subsequent years.
Brightspeed says it will spend $2 billion to bring service to about 3 million addresses during the next five years. The networks will be based on XGS-PON technology and include Wi-Fi 6.
Last week, Brightspeed said that it would deploy networks serving 10,000 addresses in Kansas by the end of next year and 45,000 additional addresses in subsequent years.
