Broadband provider Nextlink Internet and telecommunications equipment supplier Tarana are partnering to bring large-scale improvements to broadband across the Midwest.
The two companies are partnering to bring reliable, low-latency gigabit broadband service to an extensive set of under-served communities and rural regions in 11 states: Iowa Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
They expect to expand service to hundreds of rural counties over the next several years, covering over a quarter million households, according to a press release.
Nextlink is using Tarana’s G1 platform to compete in local markets with fiber providers, with rapid deployment of fast, affordable broadband service.
“The digital divide remains a pressing issue for most Americans in rural areas, and service affordability is also a big problem in many mainstream markets,” said Bill Baker, Nextlink’s CEO. “G1 is enabling us to address these issues at large scale at a pace measured in months instead of years. Early users on the network are enjoying affordable, uncapped high-speed internet access. We’re looking forward to building this network out quickly.”
In Sept. 2020, Nextlink acquired Iowa internet provider Xtreamair as part of its expansion of broadband and voice services in small towns and rural markets across the Midwest.