Fierce

Alabama is getting a major open access fiber boost via private investment. Meridiam, an infrastructure investment firm, is kicking off a $230 million project to build an open access network that will reach 17 Alabama cities, including Selma and Demopolis. It aims to eventually cover 53,000 homes and businesses in partnership with Yellowhammer Networks, a fiber-to-the-premises network developer that’s financed by Meridiam. This is far from Meridiam’s first time riding in the broadband infrastructure rodeo.

First, cable and fiber companies dismissed fixed wireless access (FWA) completely. Then, they passed it off as a temporary fad. Subscribers, they said, will return to their wireline providers when wireless bandwidth inevitably runs out.

When it comes to Verizon’s wholesale business, growth is the name of the game. That might seem like an uphill battle, considering the wholesale industry has been shrinking for years. But newly appointed SVP of Verizon Partner Solutions Jeffrey Hulse said the company’s investments in fiber and 5G could help it beat the odds. Verizon's wholesale business provides telecommunications services (voice, data and internet connectivity, etc.) to other companies who then resell those services to end customers under their own brand.

STL is already cashing in on a decision to bring its fiber manufacturing stateside, striking a deal to supply cables to regional internet service provider Lumos.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) well is about to run dry, but some analysts remain hopeful that the program may be able to secure additional funding. As the saying goes: it ain't over till it's over. To be sure, the odds are still favoring ACP funds running out, New Street Research’s Blair Levin said.