Lumos to Invest $230M in Fiber-optic Internet in the Valley
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Telecommunications provider Lumos announced Wednesday that it is expanding into Ohio with a $230 million investment to build nearly 2,000 miles of its 100% fiber-optic network in the Mahoning Valley.
Lumos will provide access to fiber internet through scalable plans to meet the growing digital demand for families and businesses, a news release states.
“This nearly a quarter of a billion-dollar investment in the Greater Youngstown community reflects our dedication to expanding our fast and reliable fiber internet to all communities, not just the big cities,” said Brain Stading, Lumos CEO. “We’re proud to be the first 100% fiber provider in the Mahoning Valley, bringing critical infrastructure to the area and helping to pave the pathway for economic growth in these areas.”
Through the expansion into Ohio, Lumos aims to bring fiber-optic internet to underserved and unserved areas, the release states.
“Access to high-speed broadband is essential in our community,” Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy said. “Yet many residents still find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide. With Lumos Fiber’s investment in broadband fiber, both our rural and urban communities will now have a chance to thrive in a new digitally empowered world.”
The project is “another substantial investment in our Valley,” said Jim Kinnick, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. “This will not only add to the economic vitality and growth of the region, but help enhance our talent retention and attraction efforts.”
The project in the Valley is the company’s first expansion since it announced a joint venture with T-Mobile and EQT in April.
“This fiber investment illustrates Lumos’ commitment to the Valley and will ensure that we remain at the forefront of the digital economy,” Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said.
Engineering work for the project is scheduled to begin in late 2024.
Pictured at top: Downtown Youngstown.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
