US fixed broadband operator altafiber (formerly Cincinnati Bell), which includes Hawaiian Telcom, has raised USD600 million in new funding to support its continued rollout of fibre networks in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Hawaii. The company’s press release said that in addition to ongoing upgrades of its current footprint, the new funds will enable altafiber to ‘expand its opportunistic edge-out and community partnership strategy, delivering on its mission to provide individuals and businesses with the fastest, most reliable, future-proof fibre network, while maintaining its commitment to the communities it serves.’
Since its acquisition by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners V (MIP) in September 2021, altafiber has passed an additional 300,000 addresses with fibre to raise its total footprint to over 1.1 million fibre homes passed. The operator expects to complete the construction of fibre to every single-family unit within Greater Cincinnati by the end of 2023, while the completion of a Hawaiian state-wide fibre network is expected by end-2027.
In combination with previously announced expansion markets, altafiber now plans to expand its multi-gigabit fibre network to around 400,000 homes outside of its incumbent territories. These new markets include Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana communities including, but not limited to, Butler, Warren, and Greene Counties in Ohio; Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties in Kentucky; and regional cities such as Greater Dayton, Dublin, Middletown, Waynesville, Xenia, Lawrenceburg, and Greendale.