Southeast regional fiber provider LiveOak Fiber said that it is investing $40 million in an Internet connectivity project in Walton County, FL. The project will include the communities of Defuniak Springs, Freeport, Seaside and Grayton Beach.
Early engineering and field work has begun.
“LiveOak Fiber is dedicated to constructing a more reliable and connected digital infrastructure that empowers the residents of Walton County,” Steve Smith, LiveOak Fiber’s Chief Revenue Officer, said in a press release. “Our investment underscores our commitment to enhancing connectivity, fostering innovation, and providing high-speed internet access that paves the way for a more digitally inclusive community.”
In February, LiveOak Fiber said that it would purchase the telecom assets in Glynn and Camden counties, GA, from Alma Telephone Company Broadband (ATC Broadband). The deal is an example of consolidation in the rural broadband market and the increasing interest of private investors in this sector.
That was not the only activity for LiveOak Fiber in Glynn County. Last July, the company said that it had gotten a $150 million initial investment from InfraRed Capital Partners and announced projects in the county as well as Okaloosa County, FL. At the time, InfraRed and LiveOak said that their goal is to provide 10 Gbps services to the southeast.
The investment in the Glynn County project is $60 million and was slated to start in February — the same month that the company acquired ATC Broadband. It was expected to create 50 jobs during the next three years.
