Glo Fiber Launches Lightning-Fast Fiber Internet in Zanesville, Ohio

Rhea-AI Summary

Glo Fiber (Nasdaq: SHEN) launched 100% fiber optic broadband service in initial neighborhoods of Zanesville, Ohio on January 6, 2026. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2026, targeting approximately 12,000 homes and businesses for service availability.

The service offers symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gbps, fiber-to-the-home technology, and access to Shentel’s 18,000-mile regional fiber network. Residents receive advance notice by mail and can check availability or sign up at glofiber.com.

Positive

• Network pass of approximately 12,000 homes and businesses
• Speeds up to 8 Gbps symmetrical upload and download
• Uses Shentel's 18,000-mile regional fiber network for low latency

Negative

• Construction completion extends to summer 2026, limiting near-term availability
• Initial launch covers only select neighborhoods, requiring phased rollout

News Market Reaction

+2.21%

1 alert

+2.21% News Effect

On the day this news was published, SHEN gained 2.21%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Homes & businesses passed: 12,000 locations Max speed: 8 Gbps Fiber network length: 18,000 miles +5 more

8 metrics

Homes & businesses passed 12,000 locations Planned Zanesville, OH Glo Fiber build by summer 2026

Max speed 8 Gbps Glo Fiber symmetrical upload and download speeds

Fiber network length 18,000 miles Shentel regional fiber backbone supporting Glo Fiber

Current price $11.32 Pre-news share price for SHEN

52-week range $9.665–$15.835 SHEN 52-week low and high before this announcement

Price vs 52-week high -28.51% Distance from 52-week high prior to news

Market cap $620,897,952 Equity value before Zanesville launch announcement

Construction completion Summer 2026 Target completion for Zanesville Glo Fiber build

Market Reality Check

Price: $12.94 Vol: Volume 239,851 is subdued...

low vol

$12.94 Last Close

Volume Volume 239,851 is subdued at 0.62x its 20-day average of 383,782. low

Technical At $11.32, SHEN trades below its $12.74 200-day moving average.

Peers on Argus

Peers show mixed moves: CABO -2.6%, LILA -0.97%, LILAK -0.41%, while SIFY +0.48%...

Peers show mixed moves: CABO -2.6%, LILA -0.97%, LILAK -0.41%, while SIFY +0.48% and ATUS +1.7%. No clear sector-wide trend mirrors SHEN’s modest gain of 0.09%.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 11 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 11	Broadband expansion	Positive	+1.8%	Completed VATI-backed gigabit broadband build to 7,000+ homes.
Dec 08	Debt refinancing	Positive	-0.4%	Refinanced credit facilities to extend maturities and lower costs.
Dec 04	Fiber launch	Positive	+0.4%	Launched FTTH internet in Radford, VA with multi-gig speeds.
Dec 01	Conference participation	Positive	+0.4%	CEO joined FTTH-focused investor panels at major conferences.
Nov 20	Asset securitization	Positive	+1.1%	Priced secured fiber network term notes for debt repayment and uses.

Pattern Detected

Recent fiber buildout and financing news often coincided with modestly positive price reactions, with only the refinancing headline seeing a small divergence.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Shenandoah Telecommunications has focused on expanding and financing its fiber network. On Nov 20, 2025, it priced a $567.405M fiber network asset securitization, followed by refinancing its credit facilities on Dec 5, 2025 to extend maturities and lower borrowing costs. The company also launched new fiber-to-the-home markets in Radford, VA and completed a VATI-backed broadband expansion to over 7,000 homes in Shenandoah County. Today’s Zanesville Glo Fiber launch continues this fiber expansion theme.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights continued rollout of Glo Fiber’s 100% fiber network, targeting about 12...

Analysis

This announcement highlights continued rollout of Glo Fiber’s 100% fiber network, targeting about 12,000 Zanesville homes and businesses with symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gbps, supported by an 18,000-mile backbone. It fits a broader pattern of FTTH launches and recent balance-sheet moves to finance fiber growth. Investors may track build completion by summer 2026, uptake in new markets, and how expansion impacts profitability and leverage over time.

Key Terms

fiber optic broadband, fiber-to-the-home, gigabits per second (Gbps), latency

4 terms

fiber optic broadband technical

"has launched their 100% fiber optic broadband service in initial neighborhoods"

Fiber optic broadband is an internet service that sends data as light through thin glass or plastic fibers, allowing much faster and more reliable connections than older copper wires—think of it as replacing a garden hose with a high-capacity water main. For investors, it matters because fiber networks are costly and long-lived infrastructure that can drive steady revenue, support higher-margin services, and create barriers to entry, influencing growth, cash flow and competitive positioning.

fiber-to-the-home technical

"Fiber-to-the-home technology and Shentel’s 18,000-mile regional fiber network"

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is a type of internet connection that uses thin strands of glass or plastic to deliver high-speed data directly to a residence. It is similar to replacing traditional phone or cable wires with a faster, more reliable pipeline for online activities. For investors, FTTH represents a key infrastructure that can enhance internet quality and support the growth of digital services, making it an important area of development in telecommunications.

gigabits per second (Gbps) technical

"symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 8 gigabits per second (Gbps)"

Gigabits per second (Gbps) measures how many billions of bits of digital information can travel across a network or connection each second; one gigabit equals one billion bits. Investors care because higher Gbps capacity lets companies move more data faster—like widening a highway to handle more cars—which can enable new services, support growth, improve customer experience and affect infrastructure costs and competitive position.

latency technical

"enable Glo Fiber to deliver high speeds, low latency, and unparalleled internet reliability"

Latency is the time delay between when information or an instruction is created and when it is received, processed, or acted on by a market system or data feed. For investors, that delay can alter the price you receive, cause missed trading opportunities, or increase execution risk — like sending a text to buy an item and the seller acting a few seconds later after the price has changed.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

EDINBURG, Va., Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glo Fiber, powered by Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) (Nasdaq: SHEN), has launched their 100% fiber optic broadband service in initial neighborhoods in Zanesville, Ohio. Construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, providing approximately 12,000 homes and businesses with a reliable, future-proof option for high-speed internet service. As construction continues, residents will receive advance notice via mail, and they can check availability or sign up for service at www.glofiber.com.

“The successes that America has enjoyed for over 200 years have come largely from the benefits of competition and innovation in our economy. The Zanesville community is very happy that it will soon become a true fiber city and our community will benefit from additional choice and competition, thanks to this investment by Glo Fiber,” said Mayor Donald Mason. “These advanced competitive services will enable residents and businesses to more fully participate in the modern digital economy.”

Glo Fiber provides super-fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 8 gigabits per second (Gbps). Fiber-to-the-home technology and Shentel’s 18,000-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 Wi-Fi for a seamless connection anywhere in your home or business.

“We’re excited to bring Glo Fiber’s lightning-fast, reliable internet to Zanesville,” said Chris Kyle, VP of Industry Affairs & Regulatory. “This launch is more than just an extra option for service—it’s about empowering residents and businesses with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly connected world. By delivering future-proof fiber technology and exceptional local service, we’re helping communities like Zanesville thrive today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

Glo Fiber takes great pride in several key differentiators:

• Fiber-to-the-home technology with exceptional reliability
• Symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 8 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 400,300 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 18,000 route miles of fiber. For more information, please visit www.shentel.com.

Media Contact:
Jennifer McDowell, Shentel
Jennifer.McDowell@emp.shentel.com
540-984-5055

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1317f9ca-ebfd-460e-a44c-cc7cd8e20a39

FAQ

What did Glo Fiber announce for Zanesville, Ohio on January 6, 2026 (SHEN)?

Glo Fiber announced a launch of 100% fiber service in initial Zanesville neighborhoods, targeting ~12,000 homes and businesses with completion by summer 2026.

What internet speeds will Glo Fiber (SHEN) offer in Zanesville?

Glo Fiber will offer symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gbps using fiber-to-the-home technology.

When will Glo Fiber construction in Zanesville (SHEN) be finished?

Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2026.

How can Zanesville residents check Glo Fiber (SHEN) availability or sign up?

Residents can check availability or sign up at glofiber.com and will receive advance notice by mail as construction continues.

Does Glo Fiber (SHEN) provide business services in Zanesville?

Yes; the company offers commercial service information at glofiberbusiness.com in addition to residential plans.