Regional broadband provider i3 Broadband is investing more than $100 million in a multiyear project that aims to bring broadband at speeds up to 10 Gbps to several cities in St. Charles County, MO.
The communities are St. Charles, St. Peters, O’Fallon, Wentzville, Lake Saint Louis, Dardenne Prairie, Cottleville, Weldon Spring and others. Plans call for i3 to offer symmetrical all-fiber networks beginning later this year.
The systems are being designed now with construction set to begin in early spring. The project will take two years to complete, according to i3 Broadband CEO Brian Olson.
A regional office will be opened soon in St. Peters and the project expects to add 100 jobs during the next 18 months. The new hires will include local market management, sales, customer service personnel and service technicians.
“We at i3 Broadband are delighted to bring the fastest internet available anywhere to the people of St. Charles County,” CFO Sam Valencia said in the press release. “With the continued expansion of work-from-home, video conferencing and streaming, and e-learning, a more robust infrastructure is more critical than ever. We’re thrilled to be rapidly expanding our network throughout the area, all while maintaining the commitment to our customer-first culture.”
In September, London, England-based Wren House Infrastructure Management Limited, which is described as a “captive global infrastructure investment” manager, acquired i3 Broadband from Seaport Capital and CountryWide Broadband.
At the time, Wren House said it would continue i3 Broadband’s growth in existing markets and move into new markets in Illinois and surrounding states. The move into Missouri suggests that Wren was serious. i3 Broadband is active in central Illinois and in the East Bay area of Rhode Island.
Olson said that i3 Broadband would continue to work with the Economic Development Council of St. Charles County, the St. Charles County Administration, and other civic institutions.
