Visionary Broadband, a high-speed wireless and fiber broadband provider focused on the Rocky Mountain area, will spend $100 million to build fiber internet in 20 communities in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana, with some of the construction already completed or underway.
The company, founded in 1994, has financial backing from GTCR, a private equity firm with a focus on rural broadband.
According to a press release, Visionary quickly built fiber networks across rural Colorado and Wyoming during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has plans to expand fiber internet to 11 additional communities in the coming three years.
Plans include offering symmetrical gigabit service, with all equipment capable of supporting 10Gbps/10Gbps to every home and business within its service area. Visionary is installing XGS-PON and Active Ethernet equipment, built on high-capacity rings.
Additionally, Visionary is building business fiber in Laramie, Lander and Wheatland, Wyoming, with plans to expand to residential areas of those communities in 2024. The company has also secured federal, state and local grants to assist in fiber builds in Cañon City, Lake City, Marble, and Walden, CO, as well as Hardin, Montana and Lusk, WY.
“This is an exciting time for our customers and our co-workers,” said Brian Worthen, Visionary Broadband CEO, in a prepared statement. “Rural communities must have reliable fiber infrastructure to attract and retain and attract young working families and businesses.”
Completed projects include:
- Dayton, WY
- LaGrange, WY
- Ranchester, WY
- Yoder, WY
Projects nearing completion are:
- Gunnison, CO
- Kremmling, CO
- Lusk, WY
- Torrington, WY
- Walden, CO
Other projects are in:
- Casper, WY
- Cheyenne, WY
- Gillette, WY
- Lander, WY
- Laramie, WY
- Wheatland, WY
- Hardin, MT
- Canon City, CO
- Lake City, CO
- Marble, CO
- Pagosa Springs, CO
Other network operators that are also expanding in Wyoming include Silver Star and Bluepeak. Other network operators expanding in Colorado include Ting Internet, Metronet and Highline.
