Company’s multi-million-dollar investment will give nearly 11,500 more locations blazing fast internet
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — July 17, 2024 — Brightspeed, the nation’s fourth largest fiber broadband builder focused on empowering more homes with ultrafast, reliable internet, announced that more construction and permitting is underway to connect thousands more residents living along the North Carolina coast to Brightspeed Fiber Internet.
The company is currently working to connect almost 7,500 families and businesses on Topsail Island and 4,000 in Sneads Ferry. More than 2,000 Topsail Island residents already have access to the ultrafast network and, earlier this year, Brightspeed announced that 36,000 local homes and small businesses across parts of Onslow County would soon be connected to the Brightspeed Fiber Internet network.
This announcement comes on the heels of the company receiving an additional $29.3 million in funding to expand its state-of-the-art fiber broadband network to even more North Carolina residents and small businesses. Over the past two years, the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program funds, together with the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants, has provided approximately $177 million in additional funding to Brightspeed. These funds will help connect approximately 81,000 more North Carolina households and businesses across 41 counties to Brightspeed’s blazing fast network — expanding the company’s planned fiber build to 800,000 locations in North Carolina.
What to Expect During Construction
Residents across these areas have likely seen Brightspeed trucks in their local neighborhoods as crews work to bring people online. Brightspeed’s highest priority is working quickly and efficiently within these local communities, keeping safety at the forefront.
North Carolinians can check fiber availability in their area by visiting www.brightspeed.com/brightspeed-fiber-internet/ and signing up to receive alerts when service is available at their location. Once connected, customers can expect straightforward bills, easy-to-understand plans and internet connections that just work.
Coastal NC is Getting the Best in Broadband
The Brightspeed Fiber Internet network leverages the latest XGS-PON (10-Gigabit Symmetric Passive Optical Network) technology to bring multi-gig-speed capabilities and consistent responsiveness that enable multi-device households to connect, work, study, stream, communicate and game efficiently and reliably in North Carolina.
Brightspeed Fiber is More Than Just Internet
Put simply, high-speed internet equals opportunity for households and businesses alike, and access to fast, reliable and affordable internet and Wi-Fi will help close the rural-urban digital divide. That’s why Brightspeed is building its smart, fiber optics-based network in communities around Topsail — so residents and business owners have the reliable connectivity they need to work, learn, play and thrive.
Brightspeed is already making a multi-billion-dollar investment in deploying next-generation fiber-optic technology to build a more reliable, super-fast broadband internet network that will reach more than three million homes and businesses across 20 states. Additionally, the company will continue pursuing state and federal broadband grant funding to augment its current fiber network build plan in North Carolina to help close the digital divide.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 6.5 million homes and businesses. Our more than 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.
