Altafiber Forms Public-private Partnership With Westerville, Ohio For Fiber Build

altafiber forms public-private partnership with Westerville, Ohio for fiber build

The City of Westerville, Ohio, and altafiber have formed a public-private partnership to bring a multigig fiber network to the community without the city spending capital dollars on the infrastructure, according to a joint announcement. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with altafiber aiming to reach residents within three years.

Under the public-private partnership, altafiber will establish a long-term presence at WeConnect, the city-owned data center, allowing it to serve local customers while opening a new revenue stream for the municipal facility. The company and the city also plan to coordinate on underground fiber placement in select areas to moderate excavation costs. 

altafiber plans to build to roughly 15,000 addresses in and around Westerville. Once the three-year project is finished, residents will have broadband access capable of supporting remote work, online education, and telehealth, the partners said. The network uses altafiber’s multigig XGS-PON fiber technology and offers symmetrical speeds up to 6 Gbps.

Westerville City Manager Monica Dupee said the partnership addresses residents’ need for fiber while drawing on the city’s earlier infrastructure investments. The city found a way to proceed “without a multi-million-dollar investment,” she said, describing high-speed internet as a necessity for daily life.

altafiber Chief Operating Officer Greg Wheeler said the company was pleased to share in a public-private partnership with Westerville. He tied fiber access to local economic development, including business retention and job attraction.

altafiber, the operating name for Cincinnati Bell in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, has invested more than $1.5 billion in its Midwest fiber network. The provider is extending its fiber-to-the-home footprint across Ohio, including in Fayette, Franklin, Montgomery, Greene, and Union counties. 

The Westerville agreement follows other Ohio expansions by the company. Earlier this year, altafiber brought 6GB speeds to roughly 32,600 addresses in Grove City and Marysville, Ohio, forming a public-private partnership with the City of Dublin to reach about 17,000 addresses.

Telecompetitor