Nextlink Internet today announced it has expanded its broadband services in Iowa and Nebraska through the acquisition of three other three internet service providers (ISPs) for an undisclosed amount.
Future Technologies of Lincoln, Neb.; Affordable Internet Solutions (AIS) of Waverly, Neb.; and Infinity 8 Broadband (I8) of Hickman, Neb. are Nextlink Internet’s newest acquisitions. The companies offer services through eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
The three companies provide fiber and wireless connections in their service territories, covering 15,000 square miles in rural communities and small towns across 40 counties.
The most recent acquisitions continue Nextlink’s growth trend, which has been fueled by wins in the Connect America Fund and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund rural broadband funding programs and by previous acquisitions.
One of Nextlink’s most recent purchases was Iowa-based Xtreamair, another fixed wireless provider, as Telecompetitor reported. The acquisition expanded Nextlink’s footprint into western Iowa, and Nextlink planned to expand the Xstreamair network so that subscribers would be able to get download speeds of 100 Mbps.
“We admire the leadership teams and staff of Future Tech, AIS, and I8 and the quality networks they have built,” said Bill Baker, CEO of Nextlink Internet, in a prepared statement about the Nextlink acquisitions. “Our operations team is thrilled to combine forces with these organizations to support our rapid expansion in Nebraska and Iowa. We will begin working immediately to upgrade, expand, and build upon the network infrastructure that we’re acquiring today, aiming to complete this work in 2021.”
Nextlink claims to be the 6th largest fixed wireless provider in the United States. It serves approximately 70,000 customers across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois, with more than 600 employees.
The company is currently expanding into small communities across 11 states, thanks to FCC funding programs. Nextlink is actively recruiting acquisition targets across it’s CAF-funded territory.
