North Carolina Benefits from 7,800 New Kinetic Fiber Builds
Rhea-AI Summary
Kinetic (NYSE:UNIT) announced a Q1 2026 broadband expansion in North Carolina, adding multi-gig fiber to 7,800 more homes across 40 communities. Over 184,000 homes and businesses in the state now have access to its 99.95%-reliable fiber network.
Kinetic reports about 11.5 million fiber strand miles and 1.9 million homes passed across its 18-state footprint, with a goal of reaching 3.5 million homes and businesses by 2029. New offerings include Wi‑Fi 7, whole-home Wi‑Fi setup, and Business Ready Internet.
Positive
- Added fiber to 7,800 North Carolina homes across 40 communities in Q1 2026
- More than 184,000 North Carolina homes and businesses now have Kinetic fiber access
- Fiber network reliability cited at 99.95%
- Network spans about 11.5 million fiber strand miles across 18 states
- Approximately 1.9 million homes passed, targeting 3.5 million by 2029
- Introduced Wi‑Fi 7, whole-home Wi‑Fi setup, and Business Ready Internet
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – UNIT
In the May 13 session, UNIT gained 0.71%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12 | Wholesale product launch | Positive | -1.3% | Early traction for new FastWaves wholesale wavelength program and quick delivery. |
| May 11 | Q1 2026 earnings | Neutral | +0.8% | Reported higher consolidated revenue with net loss and reiterated full-year 2026 outlook. |
| May 06 | Investor conferences | Neutral | -1.9% | Announcement of participation in multiple May 2026 investor conferences. |
| Apr 30 | YouTube TV bundle | Positive | +5.5% | Launch of bundled Kinetic fiber and YouTube TV offer with monthly discount. |
| Apr 28 | Employer award | Positive | -2.6% | Recognition as a 5 Star Employer for veteran and military-connected support. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent UNIT news shows mixed alignment: clearly positive commercial milestones (e.g., the YouTube TV bundle) saw an aligned positive move, while other positive or neutral announcements have sometimes coincided with share price declines.
Over the last few weeks, Uniti has reported several developments, including Q1 2026 earnings with consolidated revenue of $987.5 million and 15% year-over-year consolidated fiber growth, a YouTube TV bundle launch across an 18-state footprint, and the FastWaves™ wholesale wavelength rollout. Despite some positive themes, price reactions have been mixed, with certain good-news items aligning with gains and others coinciding with modest pullbacks or flat trading.
Key Terms
multi-gig technical
wi-fi 7 technical
voip technical
fiber-optic technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Rapid Q1 2026 expansion benefits communities and customers by enabling remote work, gaming, streaming, agriculture and telehealth
CONCORD, N.C., May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinetic today announced a major broadband expansion in North Carolina, delivering multi-gig fiber internet to an additional 7,800 homes across 40 communities in the first quarter of 2026. The expansion highlights Kinetic’s commitment to delivering better technology, at a better value, for customers.
North Carolina is the third fastest-growing state in the U.S., and experts forecast a
“I have had no issues with my service. The signal is strong and fast, and I will recommend (Kinetic) to all I can. Best product with good price,” said Kathy Bratcher, a Kinetic customer in Kannapolis.
In the first quarter of 2026, Kinetic added fiber locations in Albemarle, Broadway, Concord, Indian Trail, Kannapolis, Lexington, Morven, Pine Bluff, Tryon, Wingate, and more. A portion of these locations were supported by funds awarded to the State of North Carolina by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
To date, more than 184,000 homes and businesses across the Tar Heel State have access to Kinetic’s high-speed, next-generation connectivity.
Research shows that fiber-connected communities experience
“Fiber is powering the next generation of opportunity, and as more of our daily activities happen online, we’re focused on ensuring more communities have access to the reliable, high-speed connectivity they need to thrive,” said Stacy Hale, Kinetic’s state operations president. “We’re committed to building a future-proof infrastructure to help more residents, business owners, students and families stay connected and prepared both now and for many years to come.”
Kinetic fiber customers can benefit from seamless 4K+ streaming across multiple devices with no data caps and no usage charges. Multi-gigabit connections support remote work, online learning and low-latency gaming and, through partnerships with YouTube TV, AT&T for cellular bundles, and Signal for reliable VoIP, households and businesses receive a unified high-performance connectivity experience.
More North Carolina residents and businesses now have access to:
- Wi-Fi 7 – The newest, most advanced secure connection with equipment from manufacturers like eero, an Amazon company. Wi-Fi 7 delivers faster speeds and lower latency and supports up to 200+ connected devices at the same time, creating a better internet experience with wall-to-wall coverage and less tech stress.
- Whole-Home Wi-Fi Set-Up – Professional new fiber installs coupled with the Kinetic PromiseTM, which is a pledge that technicians will not leave the home until Wi-Fi works in every area and on every device where needed.
- Business Ready Internet – A unified fiber connectivity service for small businesses that offers up to 1 Gig speeds with integrated security and managed Wi-Fi to keep daily operations efficient and secure.
Kinetic, which was named CNET’s Best Rural Fiber Internet Provider in 2026, will continue expanding its future-proof fiber network in North Carolina in 2026. With approximately 11.5 million fiber strand miles and approximately 1.9 million homes passed to date across its 18-state footprint, Kinetic’s network is expected to reach 3.5 million homes and businesses by 2029.
“We're investing in communities and rapidly expanding our fiber-optic network, reaching farther and moving faster, to deliver technology that better supports entertainment, rising entrepreneurship, digital work and economic opportunity,” said Hale.
Residents interested in Kinetic Fiber Internet can check service availability and construction updates at www.gokinetic.com or call 1- 877-90-FIBER (877-903-4237).
About Kinetic: Kinetic, a business unit of Uniti (NASDAQ: UNIT), is a premier insurgent provider of multi-gigabit fiber internet, whole-home Wi-Fi, internet security, and voice services in 1,400 markets across 18 states in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and Northeastern U.S. Additional information is available at gokinetic.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and management’s current expectations with respect to the future, involve certain risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the strategic expansion of the Kinetic fiber network. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would,” “predicts” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Uniti may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Future results may differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that Uniti makes. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, that could cause events and results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the merger of Uniti and Windstream; competition and overbuilding in consumer service areas and general competition in business markets; risks related to the Company’s indebtedness, which could reduce funds available for business purposes and operational flexibility; rapid changes in technology, which could affect its ability to compete; risks relating to information technology system failures, network disruptions, and failure to protect, loss of, or unauthorized access to, or release of, data; risks related to various forms of regulation from the Federal Communications Commission, state regulatory commissions and other government entities and effects of unfavorable legal proceedings, government investigations, and complex and changing laws; risks inherent in the communications industry and associated with general economic conditions; and additional risks set forth in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the Company’s predecessor’s registration statement on Form S-4 dated February 12, 2025. The discussion of such risks is not an indication that any such risks have occurred at the time of this filing. Uniti does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Media Contact:
Megan Krtek
uniti.kinetic.pr@uniti.com
Kinetic PromiseTM relies on reasonable effort to confirm Wi‑Fi works in living spaces where customer grants technician access. Wi‑Fi coverage & performance vary by layout, building materials, interference, & device capability. Not a guarantee of uniform coverage, speed, or error‑free service. Add. equipment or wiring may be required & incur charges; certain areas/devices (e.g., detached structures or outdoor spaces) may be excluded. Customer may cancel any time.
