Glo Fiber Announces Expansion of its Fiber Network in Lancaster, Ohio

Rhea-AI Summary

Glo Fiber, powered by Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (SHEN), is expanding its fiber optic broadband service in Lancaster, Ohio. The network currently serves over 4,000 homes and businesses, with plans to reach approximately 10,000 additional locations by the second half of 2025. Construction began in summer 2024.

The service offers symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps), leveraging Shentel's 16,000-mile regional fiber network. Glo Fiber's offering includes internet, phone service, video service, and Whole Home Wi-Fi, with no long-term contracts required. The company operates across multiple states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.

Positive

• Network expansion to reach 10,000 additional homes and businesses
• Currently serving 4,000 homes and businesses in Lancaster
• Leverages extensive 16,000-mile regional fiber network
• Offers competitive 5 Gbps symmetrical speeds

Negative

• None.

Insights

Telecommunications Infrastructure Analyst

The Lancaster expansion marks a strategic move in Shentel's aggressive fiber deployment campaign, with several key implications for investors. The addition of 10,000 serviceable addresses represents a 250% increase in their Lancaster footprint, signaling confidence in market demand and return on infrastructure investment.

The deployment timeline, targeting completion in H2 2025, aligns with industry best practices for fiber builds and suggests efficient capital allocation. Municipal support, evidenced by the Mayor's endorsement, typically accelerates permitting processes and reduces deployment costs, enhancing project ROI potential.

This expansion is particularly noteworthy as it leverages Shentel's existing regional fiber backbone, enabling operational efficiencies and reduced backhaul costs. The symmetrical 5 Gbps service offering positions them ahead of many cable competitors still operating on hybrid fiber-coax networks, typically to asymmetrical speeds and higher latency.

The no-contract approach, while potentially increasing customer churn risk, reflects growing industry trends toward service flexibility and suggests confidence in their product's competitive positioning. This strategy, combined with local customer service, typically yields higher customer satisfaction scores and lower customer acquisition costs in similar markets.

For investors, this expansion represents a calculated balance between near-term capital expenditure and long-term market position strengthening. The fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure creates a depreciation-resistant asset with multi-decade utility, providing a hedge against technology obsolescence and positioning for future service upgrades without significant additional investment.

EDINBURG, Va., Feb. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Glo Fiber, powered by Shenandoah Telecommunications Company ("Shentel") (Nasdaq: SHEN), announced that construction of their Glo Fiber 100% fiber optic broadband service is underway in Lancaster, Ohio. Glo Fiber's future-proof, reliable high-speed internet service is already available to more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Lancaster, and construction will expand service to approximately 10,000 additional homes and businesses in the city. Construction began in the summer of 2024 with expected completion planned for the second half of 2025. As construction continues, residents will receive advance notice via mail, and they can check availability or sign up for service at www.glofiber.com/en/lancaster.

"I am excited to welcome new investment from a company that is already part of Lancaster, and will be delivering to our residents and businesses better options for high-quality internet," said Lancaster Mayor Don McDaniel.

Glo Fiber provides super-fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps). Fiber-to-the-home technology and Shentel's 16,000-mile regional fiber network enable Glo Fiber to deliver high speeds, low latency, and unparalleled internet reliability. The company has earned a reputation for providing superior local customer service across its markets, including the growing list of communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. In addition to high-speed internet, Glo Fiber offers phone service, video service, and Whole Home Wi-Fi for a seamless connection anywhere in your home or business.

"We are excited to continue our fiber-to-the-home expansion in Lancaster," said Chris Kyle, Vice President of Industry Affairs & Regulatory at Shentel. "As we continue to grow throughout Ohio, we look forward to bringing our award-winning fiber service to even more residents and businesses."

Glo Fiber takes great pride in several key differentiators compared to their competitors:

• Fiber-to-the-home technology with exceptional reliability
• Symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 5 Gbps
• Easy, straight-forward pricing with no long-term contracts
• Prompt and friendly local customer service

To learn more about Glo Fiber, please visit www.glofiber.com for residential service and www.glofiberbusiness.com for commercial service.

About Glo Fiber
Glo Fiber provides next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) multi-gigabit broadband internet access, live streaming TV, and digital phone service powered by Shentel (Nasdaq: SHEN). With services now available to approximately 320,000 homes and businesses, Glo Fiber offers reliable, symmetrical broadband service using state-of-the-art technology, including XGS-PON 10 Gbps networks.

About Shenandoah Telecommunications
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) provides broadband services through its high speed, state-of-the-art fiber optic and cable networks to residential and commercial customers in eight contiguous states in the eastern United States. Shentel's services include: broadband internet, video, voice, high-speed Ethernet, dark fiber leasing, and managed network services. The Company owns an extensive regional network with over 16,300 route miles of fiber. For more information, please visit www.shentel.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/glo-fiber-announces-expansion-of-its-fiber-network-in-lancaster-ohio-302365769.html

SOURCE Shenandoah Telecommunications Company

FAQ

When will Glo Fiber complete its Lancaster, Ohio expansion (SHEN)?

Glo Fiber plans to complete its Lancaster, Ohio expansion in the second half of 2025.

How many additional homes will Glo Fiber's Lancaster expansion serve (SHEN)?

The expansion will serve approximately 10,000 additional homes and businesses in Lancaster, Ohio.

What internet speeds does Glo Fiber offer in Lancaster (SHEN)?

Glo Fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps).

How many homes does Glo Fiber currently serve in Lancaster, Ohio (SHEN)?

Glo Fiber currently serves more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Lancaster, Ohio.

What states does Glo Fiber operate in (SHEN)?

Glo Fiber operates in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.