TDS Telecom ramped its fiber build in Idaho, announcing plans to cover an additional 15,000 locations there as competitors including Lumen Technologies, Google Fiber and Ziply Fiber eye expansions in the state.
The operator’s latest projects in Idaho include a build in Caldwell which will serve around 12,000 locations as well as expansions in Hansen, Heyburn and Kimberly tackling another 3,000 addresses. As in its other fiber markets, TDS said it plans to deliver service up to 2 Gbps for consumers and up to 10 Gbps for businesses.
Its newly announced builds add to a growing list of projects TDS has taken on in the state. TDS began fiber work in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum back in 2019, and extended its build to include Meridian, Garden City and the Town of Boise in 2020. Last year, it took work to Nampa and Boise, and in February of this year announced plans to cover thousands more addresses in Twin Falls, Burley and Jerome.
Drew Petersen, TDS SVP of Corporate Affairs, told Fierce its builds in Idaho are all new markets for the company.
"Idaho is an important part of our efforts to expand our fiber network. It is a great state in which to do business and is full of wonderful communities, many of which are underserved when it comes to high-speed internet," he said. "We’re excited to continue growing our presence in Idaho and work side-by-side with the communities we serve."
All told, it has set its eye on reaching 222,000 or nearly a quarter million locations in the state as it works to blanket upwards of 60% of its footprint with fiber by 2026. During the operator’s recent Q2 2022 earnings call, company executives said fiber coverage stood at 34% of its footprint, putting it more than halfway to its goal.
TDS CFO Michelle Brukwicki said on the call it has “achieved superior market share in our incumbent markets where we have invested in fiber” and ultimately expects to achieve 40% to 50% penetration.
But fiber competition appears set to intensify in Idaho.
Earlier this month, Google Fiber named Idaho as one of five states where it expects to expand its service over the coming years. The same week, Lumen Technologies unveiled plans to stand up its Quantum Fiber service in Ada County, Idaho, which is home to the city of Boise.
Ziply Fiber, meanwhile, appears to have more than a dozen cities in the state on its build list. These include Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum, which are also TDS targets.
This story has been updated with comments from TDS exec Drew Petersen.