Also rolls out high-speed broadband access to 16,000 N.S. homes
WOODSTOCK, N.B. — Rural broadband provider Xplornet Communications today announced it has closed an agreement to acquire Fredericton-based independent fibre network operator f6 Networks, for an undisclosed amount.
Cartt.ca recently profiled f6 Networks, which owns and operates a 1,600-kilometre fibre backbone network in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, providing services to hundreds of enterprise customers and carriers across the Maritimes.
With the acquisition of f6 Networks, Woodstock, N.B.-based Xplornet becomes a significant fibre provider in Atlantic Canada and is now able to accelerate its deployment plans for its hybrid fibre wireless network in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, says the news release announcing the purchase.
“We are excited at the prospect of joining f6’s robust fibre network to Xplornet’s cutting-edge hybrid fibre wireless deployments,” said Allison Lenehan, president and CEO of Xplornet, in the release. “This acquisition will accelerate our plans in Atlantic Canada, to deliver unprecedented speeds and unlimited data plans at affordable prices for rural customers.”
“Atlantic Canada is our home, and we want to see its people and businesses prosper by having access to some of the best networks in the world,” added Gary Keenan, co-founder and chairman of f6 Networks. “We are pleased to see f6 Networks acquired by Xplornet to continue its evolution as a champion for connectivity in this province and across Canada.”
Today’s announcement builds on investments Xplornet has already made in fibre and 5G-ready wireless technology throughout Canada, adds the release (Xplornet also operates as a mobile wireless provider in Manitoba, too, as well as providing nationwide satellite broadband service). The company announced last year it will invest $500 million over five years to deploy hybrid fibre wireless and satellite technology in its facilities-based network to deliver broadband services to rural Canadians.
In a second news release today, Xplornet announced more than 16,000 rural homes and businesses in Nova Scotia now have access to high-speed Internet, unlimited data and the latest fixed wireless broadband technology thanks to an accelerated 100-day network expansion recently completed.
The network project was first announced in February 2020, and in response to the increased demand for enhanced rural Internet services driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, Xplornet along with Develop Nova Scotia and the municipalities of Cumberland and Colchester collaborated on a plan to accelerate construction of the network.
In 100 days, 16 new fixed wireless towers were constructed, providing fixed wireless coverage at up to 25 megabits per second (Mbps) with unlimited data plans to more than 16,000 rural homes and businesses. This fall, Xplornet plans to offer speeds up to 50 Mbps to rural residents in Cumberland and Colchester.
On August 21, Xplornet and the two municipalities signed an agreement to support the connection of an additional 8,000 households to the network. To complete the project, Xplornet will deploy fibre-optic cable and additional 5G-ready wireless broadband infrastructure to enable the delivery of fibre-to-the-home and fixed wireless services at higher speed levels up to 100 Mbps, says the release.
“As a company rooted in Atlantic Canada, we are proud to support rural Nova Scotians during these extraordinary times by accelerating the deployment of improved high-speed broadband service,” said Xplornet CEO Allison Lenehan. “Our work over the past 100 days has laid a foundation for further growth in Nova Scotia. We are not done. We look forward to delivering the next phase of this transformative broadband project.”
