By wrapping up its acquisition of FiberNet from CLEC One Communications, nTelos (NASDAQ: NTLS) now becomes West Virginia's largest service provider behind Frontier Communications (NYSE: FTR).
With the acquisition of FiberNet in the can, nTelos not only expands it fiber network footprint with 3,500 additional route miles, but also 30,000 new customers in West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky.
Frank L. Berry, NTELOS executive vice president and president of wireline operations, in a release said that "the FiberNet network provides enhancements that add diversity and capacity to our combined 5,700 route mile network and the increased density, provides immediate access to more enterprise customers in new Tier 2 and 3 markets."
In addition to enhancing its network asset portfolio, nTelos added about 160 new employees to its roster in West Virginia.
Outside of the necessary investments it will take to integrate the billing and related back office systems of FiberNet into its fold, nTelos said that it plans to invest $40 million in the state through 2013.
Of course, nTelos' acquisition of FiberNet wasn't devoid of controversy. Not only did FiberNet suffer a network outage in October, Frontier Communications--which instantly became West Virginia's largest service provider when it completed its purchase of Verizon's mainly rural lines in July--wanted provisions in place to ensure nTelos' integration of FiberNet would not degrade its network interconnection process with the two carriers.
For more:
- see the release
- Charleston Daily Mail has this article
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