Fixed Wireless Mergers and Acquisitions
Perhaps the only constant in the fixed wireless industry is that it’s always changing 🙂 For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic surge in internet traffic for all providers. Additionally, the expansion of 5G and other access technologies promise to take the industry and broadband internet access to new heights.
A recent WISPA survey also revealed significant industry changes related to the pandemic. For example, average download traffic increased by over 40% during peak times compared to the pre-pandemic era. Many WISPs also reported an increase in customers and demand for higher-speed packages, leading to increased revenue. Additionally, access to new billion-dollar government funding programs has local and regional WISPs aiming for significant growth.
With all this change and constant activity, it’s sometimes difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on in the WISP world. So we’ve decided to make life easy for you!
Our aim with this tracker is to monitor the latest acquisitions in the fixed wireless industry. We hope this information will be valuable to fixed wireless operators and others interested in learning more about the WISP industry. After all, WISPs play a critical role in bridging the digital divide in America and around the world.
Fixed Wireless Operators M&A Deals
| Buyer | Seller | Location | Month | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | BroadAspect | Sterling, VA | April 2024 | EarthLink acquires fixed wireless and fiber hybrid ISP in Virginia. |
| EarthLink | QX.net | Lexington, KY | February 2024 | EarthLink acquires Kentucky's largest dedicated wireless internet network, with plans to expand further. |
| Sago Internet | ClearBadger | Medina County, TX | February 2024 | Fixed wireless and fiber hybrid ISP will expand its presence in south Texas with acquisition. |
| Rural Telecommunications of America | Blue Ridge Fiber | Midland-Odessa, TX | January 2024 | RTA continues to expand its gigFAST fiber broadband network in rural Texas. |
| Pavlov Media | iZone Broadband and Inspire Wi-Fi | Champaign, IL | December 2023 | With two acquisitions, Pavlov expands rural presence in Central Ohio and MDU market in over 500 communities. |
| InfoWest | SunRiver Fiber Network | St. George, UT | November 2023 | InfoWest adds 1,000 subs and expands its fiber presence in Southern Utah. |
| Palisade Infrastructure | Rainier Connect | Tacoma, WA | November 2023 | Australian investment firm acquires Tacoma ISP and rebrands it as Lightcurve. |
| 360 Communications | 903 Broadband | Durant, OK | September 2023 | Oklahoma and Texas ISPs merge to form 360 Broadband, with almost 16,000 subscribers in 30 counties. |
| Vyve | ATC Broadband | Vidalia, GA | September 2023 | Rural broadband consolidator Vyve acquires the commercial arm of ATC Broadband in the Vidalia area. |
| Nextlink | Echo Wireless | Hudson Oaks, TX | August 2023 | Texas ISP Nextlink expands into Indiana, meaning it's now active in 8 states across the US. |
| EarthLink | One Ring Networks | Atlanta, GA | July 2023 | EarthLink acquires one of the largest fixed wireless providers of voice and data services in the US. |
| Vistabeam | Airbits | Estes Park, CO | July 2023 | Vistabeam adds 25 towers of coverage in the Estes Valley, expanding their growing presence in Colorado. |
| GigFire | Rural Comm | Farina, Illinois | July 2023 | Company formerly known as LTD Broadband acquires FWA and fiber provider. |
| Ziply Fiber | Ptera | Kirkland, Washington | March 2023 | Ziply acquires fiber and fixed wireless internet provider, adding 4,000 subscribers in Washington and Idaho. |
| Cogeco | Oxio | Montreal, QC | February 2023 | Big telco acquires startup ISP and adds 30,000 subscribers. |
| GI Partners | Rise Broadband | Englewood, Colorado | February 2023 | Investment firm acquires Rise Broadband, with plans to accelerate rollout of FTTH to their customers. |
| Tahoe Network Infrastructure | E-Vergent | Spokane, Washington | January 2023 | Tahoe acquires Wisconsin WISP for $11.2M, and pledges $10M more to expand their reach. |
| Vistabeam | Raicom | Fort Collins, CO | January 2023 | This acquisition will add 10 new towers for Vistabeam in SW Nebraska and NW Kansas. |
| Verizon | West Central Wireless | San Angelo, Texas | December 2022 | Telecom giant expands into West Central Texas with acquisition that's subject to FCC approval. |
| Northleaf Capital Partners | Mercury Broadband | Topeka, Kansas | November 2022 | NCP will invest up to $230M to support Mercury's expansion plans. |
| Vistabeam | Front Range Internet | Fort Collins, CO | November 2022 | Acquisition will add several new towers of coverage in Northern Colorado. |
| Liberty Communications | Natel Broadband | West Liberty, Iowa | October 2022 | Acquisition will help accelerate expansion of fiber broadband, fixed wireless, and voice services for residential and commercial subscribers in area. |
| LS Networks | PocketiNet | Portland, Oregon | September 2022 | PocketiNet will now expand FTTH to 32,000 more homes in Washington state. |
| Fastwyre | Moundville Communications | Alabama | September 2022 | Fastwyre expands into its sixth state and gains 6,000 subs. |
| GiGstreem | netBlazr | Boston, MA | August 2022 | Financial terms not disclosed. |
| Ziply Fiber | Eastern Oregon Net | Oregon | June 2022 | Financial terms not disclosed. |
| Xplornet | Full Throttle Networks | Manitoba | April 2022 | Xplornet acquires 1,600 customers in the deal. |
| Access Communications | KRAKR | Saskatchewan | February 2022 | Access adds 70 towers with the acquisition. |
| Hunter Communications | Online NW, XS Media | Oregon | January 2022 | Financial terms not disclosed but this will allow Hunter to expand broadband internet services throughout Oregon. |
| Hilliary Communications | SWOI Wireless, Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company | Oklahoma | January 2022 | Hilliary supports customers in OK, TX and IA. These acquisitions add 3,000 subscribers to their platform. |
