CLEVELAND – Everstream, the business-only fiber network, today announced fiber builds in seven Midwest markets — which will help to connect more than 2,000 macro cell towers — serving the fiber to the tower requirements of wireless carriers as they build out their 5G networks and providing businesses access to reliable, high-capacity connectivity.
Totaling more than 1,000 route miles, the new networks will serve the cities of Fort Wayne and South Bend, Indiana; Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky; and Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo, Ohio. The network builds are part of Everstream’s strategy to install up to 3,000 new route miles of fiber in its Midwest footprint in 2021.
A significant amount of fiber is required to connect 5G base stations to carriers’ networks and for backhaul services. Well-positioned to meet the need, Everstream provides high-capacity fiber from the core network to the cell tower at 100 Gbps+, providing the flexibility carriers need to scale their networks as demand grows.
According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, 5G is entering the next phase, when many new devices and end-user applications will emerge to make the most out of the technological benefits that access to high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity provides. Ericsson reports that as of the end of 2020, more than 220 million 5G subscriptions were expected worldwide. By 2026, 5G will account for an estimated 54 percent of total mobile data.
“Everstream continues to cement its position as the premier fiber provider in the Midwest,” said Everstream President and CEO Brett Lindsey. “Demand for 5G services is just beginning and will require high-capacity fiber networks to support this growth. By architecting and building new fiber networks in these markets, we will help support the 5G initiatives of wireless carriers and serve enterprises for years to come.”
The multi-city buildout allows Everstream to provide enterprises in these markets high-capacity connectivity as they scale. The need for increasingly dense fiber networks is being driven by enterprises’ need for high-bandwidth connectivity, and the growing need for data centers to push closer to business customers.
As part of its 2021 expansion, Everstream plans to:
- Spend more than $47 million on network growth with a total of 1,047 route miles planned in seven markets.
- Build dense fiber networks in the metro and rural surrounding areas of Fort Wayne (96 route miles) and South Bend (97), Indiana; Lexington (96) and Louisville (243), Kentucky; Cincinnati (218), Dayton (225), and Toledo (72), Ohio.
- Provide a direct connection to Everstream’s other markets throughout the Midwest.
The launch and densification of these markets is part of Everstream’s ongoing footprint growth throughout select markets in the Midwest. The Everstream network encompasses more than 15,000 route miles of fiber with plans to add 2,000 – 3,000 route miles per year over the next few years along with evaluating strategic acquisitions through its build-and-buy strategy. As Everstream’s network grows, its customers benefit from more diverse network options and direct connections to data centers and locations in the expanded region.
Everstream’s enterprise-grade network delivers robust carrier and business fiber services, including dedicated internet access, dark fiber, Ethernet and data center solutions. Everstream’s advanced fiber network offers direct peering with all major carriers and cloud hyperscalers. With high-speed, low-latency connections, it can accommodate converged internet, voice and data services at speeds of up to 100 Gbps.
To learn more and view Everstream’s network and expansion efforts, visit everstream.net/network-expansion.