Regional operator Lumos has received franchise approvals from the Virginia cities of Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach to deploy broadband fiber capable of cumulatively serving as many as 85,000 residents and small businesses.
The deployment will consist of almost 900 miles of symmetrical 100 Gbps-capable fiber infrastructure. Lumos is funding the entire $83 million project. Engineering work has begun, with construction slated to begin next year. The company estimates that the project will be completed in two years.
“We are thrilled to bring new fiber infrastructure to the Hampton Roads,” Lumos CEO Brian Stading said in a press release. “The infrastructure of yesterday can’t unlock the possibilities of tomorrow, and Lumos is building for the next 50 years, not the last 50. This expansion highlights our commitment to bringing competitive choice and the best technology available to these communities, creating a connection to the future.”
Lumos announced that it intended to serve the Hampton Roads area — which includes Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach — back in July. The franchise approvals announced today are a key milestone toward completion of those plans.
Previously – last December – Lumos said that it would expand its Virginia footprint with the addition of 12,000 homes and businesses in Augusta and Bedford counties and the communities of Stuarts Draft, Crozet and Waynesboro.
Lumos provides broadband, whole house Wi-Fi, voice and streaming services to almost 200,000 addresses in North Carolina and Virginia.
Lumos/NorthState became an independent company in October 2021 when EQT Infrastructure completed the sale of Segra, the company’s former parent, to Cox Communications. EQT continues to support Lumos. The company pointed to a growth strategy when the deal closed.
