The Buildout: Bluepeak to expand in Texas; Conexon Connect completes third network

Bluepeak, a fiber provider serving the Great Plains region, announced plans to invest over $31 million to build out a fiber network throughout the cities of Stephenville, Mineral Wells and Ennis, Texas. According to a press release, the network will reach 22,000 homes and businesses, with initial services expected to launch in 2025. Bluepeak was acquired by GI Data Infrastructure in 2021 and received a strategic investment from Ares Management in early 2024 to further accelerate its fiber deployment plans.

Conexon Connect – the service provider arm of Conexon, which builds rural fiber networks – announced the completion of its third network. The $54.5 million, 2,500-mile fiber network, built in partnership with Washington EMC in Sandersville, Georgia, now reaches the electric co-op's 12,200 members across ten rural counties. Work on the project began in 2021 and was completed over three years. The completion of Washington EMC's network follows two other Conexon Connect launches in the last year, including its build in partnership with Georgia-based Southern Rivers Energy and with Middle Georgia EMC. "All projects have been completed anywhere from six months to a year ahead of schedule," said Conexon in a press release.

Brightspeed's construction is underway in Wisconsin, Missouri and Alabama. In Wisconsin, work is ongoing to connect more than 2,500 homes in Mukwonago. In Missouri, Brightspeed is conducting construction to connect more than 11,000 homes and businesses in Clinton, Pleasant Hill and Oak Grove. And the company is working along Alabama's Gulf Coast to connect 4,000 homes and businesses in the regions of Robertsdale and Silverhill, on top of 3,000 already getting service in Robertsdale.

Vexus Fiber has launched its network in Las Cruces, New Mexico, making service available to initial homes and businesses in the neighborhoods of East Idaho Avenue and El Paseo Road. Roughly 400 homes and businesses can get connected now, with the full $50 million project projected to connect more than 44,000 homes and businesses as work progresses over the next three years. Construction began in February 2024. Vexus Fiber is part of Metronet.

Metronet is halfway done with construction on its $24 million fiber buildout in Waterloo, Iowa. Service is now available for "thousands" of homes and businesses, according to a press release, with the full network slated for completion in early 2025. Metronet began construction on the Waterloo project in late 2022. The company is in the process of being acquired through a joint venture formed by T-Mobile and existing Metronet investor KKR. Metronet's other investor, Oak Hill Capital, will retain a minority stake.

Charter's Spectrum launched more services in regions where it received funding through the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). In South Carolina this week, the company said it launched broadband services for 570 homes and businesses in Lexington County. In Georgia, Spectrum launched broadband services for 2,500 homes and small businesses in Carroll, Coweta, Haralson and Heard Counties, as well as more than 1,100 homes and small businesses in Hall County. And in Alabama, Spectrum launched broadband services for 1,100 homes and small businesses in Cullman and Winston Counties. Spectrum was awarded $1.2 billion through RDOF to connect roughly 1.3 million locations in 24 states.

Kwikom, a fiber and fixed wireless provider based in Kansas, announced that the "majority" of households in the city of Gardner now have access to its service. Kwikom began construction on the $6 million build in September 2023. According to the latest available census data, there are over 7,800 households in Gardner.

Consolidated's Fidium Fiber launched in several New Hampshire regions, including Madison, Tamworth, Littleton and Hancock. In Madison and Tamworth, Fidium Fiber is now available to more than 1,900 homes and businesses. In Littleton, Fidium is live for 4,300 homes and businesses. And in Hancock, Fidium is now live for 900 homes and businesses, with a forthcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow on August 15.