Regional ISP LiveOak Fiber is continuing its network investment in Florida, announcing Tuesday it will pour $40 million into expanding fiber service in the state’s Walton County.
This investment aims to support the local economy as well as “springboard digital infrastructure,” LiveOak said, covering cities such as Defuniak Springs, Freeport, Seaside and Grayton Beach.
LiveOak for the past year has been plotting to deliver XGS-PON technology to parts of Florida and Georgia. In July 2022, the company scored $150 million in initial funding from InfraRed Capital Partners to build fiber in Georgia’s Glynn County and Florida’s Okaloosa County.
Early engineering and fielding work is already underway in Walton County, and LiveOak will provide “comprehensive updates” on the project’s progress in the coming months.
“LiveOak Fiber is dedicated to constructing a more reliable and connected digital infrastructure that empowers the residents of Walton County,” said LiveOak CRO Steve Smith in a statement. “Our investment underscores our commitment to enhancing connectivity, fostering innovation, and providing high-speed internet access that paves the way for a more digitally inclusive community.”
The ISP’s website currently lets consumers sign up for fiber service in five Okaloosa County cities, four Glynn County cities as well as in Georgia’s Skidaway Island, though not all locations have fiber up and running yet.
LiveOak President Jody Craft told Fierce last year the company is planning to reach approximately 75,000 locations by 2024. It also sees an opportunity to serve areas in the southeast U.S. “that are underserved for modern bandwidth demands.”
In terms of speed tiers, LiveOak is offering symmetrical 500 Mbps, 2-gig and 5-gig plans. The 500-meg tier starts at $55 per month, which goes up to $99 monthly for the 2-gig plan. The 5-gig offering is priced at $135 per month.
LiveOak isn’t the only provider making fiber plays in Florida. Fellow challenger IQ Fiber scored $150 million from SDC Capital Partners to fuel its expansion in the Jacksonville area, while cable operator WOW! just announced new greenfield fiber builds in Hernando County.