US-based Rightfiber Expands 28,000-Mile Fiber Network to Cover Data Centers

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 21, US fiber broadband operator Rightfiber announced a new round of network expansion plans. Backed by US$1.6 billion in credit financing, the company will continue expanding its fiber network across 20 states and build dedicated communication lines for artificial intelligence data centers. The company's existing fiber network totals more than 28,000 miles, covering more than 400 communities, with over 300,000 fiber-to-the-home coverage points. Its business also spans residential broadband, enterprise dedicated lines, wireless carriers, and interconnection of large data centers.

Rightfiber was formed through the merger of Ritter Communications and Great Plains Communications, both under Grain Management, with the integration completed on September 2, 2026. Following the merger, the company operates fiber-to-the-home networks and long-haul and mid-haul backbone fiber routes across 20 US states, serving more than 400 communities. The US$1.6 billion credit facility, led by Fifth Third Bank, was finalized in tandem with the corporate integration and will be used for subsequent network construction and potential acquisitions.

On October 1, Rightfiber completed the acquisition of Fastwyre Broadband's broadband operations in Nebraska, with existing customers and related network assets integrated into Rightfiber's operating system. This was the company's first acquisition following the completion of its integration. The company plans to continue expanding fiber coverage through both network builds and acquisitions, and to develop new enterprise access and data center interconnection routes on the basis of its existing long-haul backbone network.

Rightfiber CEO Heath Simpson said the company has already established fiber network partnerships with several major cloud computing and AI infrastructure operators. Specific construction work includes building new dedicated fiber lines, extending branches from the existing long-haul backbone network, and constructing a second independent fiber route. Some data center customers use communication lines over different paths to meet multi-path network connectivity requirements.

In the residential broadband market, the company continues to deploy fiber-to-the-home networks in small towns and mid-sized cities across the United States. The selection of new build areas involves household density, competition from existing broadband operators, local population size, and geological conditions, based on which aerial or underground deployment methods are determined. For long-haul routes built for large data centers, Rightfiber plans to set up network access branches along the route so that some communities along the way can also connect to the new fiber facilities.