Delivering the Future: How Brightspeed Is Powering 10G Growth with Fiber to the Tower
In 2025, the promise of ubiquitous 5G connectivity remains unfulfilled for many rural communities across the United States. Despite significant investments and ambitious federal programs, vast regions still grapple with inadequate broadband access.
High-frequency 5G signals require dense networks of antennas, making rural deployment economically challenging. As a result, many rural areas continue to experience patchy coverage, with some reports indicating that 5G only covers 30% to 40% of the land area in most U.S. counties.
These challenges highlight a pressing need for robust, scalable infrastructure solutions that can effectively serve rural populations. Brightspeed’s Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) initiative emerges as a strategic response to this need, aiming to deliver high-capacity fiber connections to wireless towers and, by extension, to the communities that rely on them.
Building a Network for Today—and Tomorrow
Brightspeed launched the FTTT initiative in 2023 with a clear strategic vision: to build a best-in-class network capable of meeting immediate wireless carrier needs while anticipating long-term growth. The goal was not just to enhance existing services but to enable the next wave of bandwidth-intensive applications—from advanced 5G deployments to emerging fixed wireless access (FWA) services.
Recognizing that 5G would dramatically increase backhaul requirements at the tower level, Brightspeed committed early to deploying 10G fiber connections—providing a level of bandwidth that, at the time, wireless carriers could not even fully utilize. By staying ahead of demand, Brightspeed positioned itself as an essential partner for wireless carriers expanding into rural markets and preparing for the future of mobile broadband.
Strengthening the Backbone
Central to the success of the FTTT initiative was the rapid modernization of Brightspeed’s metro and regional networks. In under 18 months, the company completed the buildout of 32 metro Ethernet networks (MENs), upgrading each with a 100G+ transport backbone designed to support 10G tower access at scale.
Brightspeed replaced legacy infrastructure with a transport architecture capable of delivering 88 x 100G wavelengths per device—providing terabit-class capacity and a clear upgrade path to 400G and beyond. This resilient, high-capacity foundation ensures that Brightspeed’s network can meet the growing demands of wireless carriers, hyperscalers, and enterprise customers well into the next decade.
The approach emphasized meticulous sequencing and close carrier collaboration, ensuring that each market build translated into immediate, tangible benefits. By proactively coordinating critical milestones with wireless partners, Brightspeed eliminated delays and enabled seamless tower deployments upon network completion.
Delivering 10G to the Tower: A Transformational Leap
The shift from 1G to 10G connectivity at the tower represents a fundamental transformation in wireless backhaul capability. Prior to this investment, most towers operated with 1G circuits—a significant bottleneck for modern 5G radio access networks (RANs) and FWA services.
Brightspeed’s upgrades deliver a tenfold increase in bandwidth, supporting advanced radio technologies like Open RAN (ORAN) and Centralized RAN (CRAN), which demand higher throughput and lower latency. By future-proofing tower sites with 10G and beyond, Brightspeed is enabling carriers to deliver richer, more reliable services to consumers and businesses alike.
The new architecture is not only higher capacity but also more resilient, leveraging path diversity, low-latency optical design principles, and stringent carrier-grade service level expectations.
Scaling Smart, Moving Fast
Brightspeed’s operational momentum has exceeded initial expectations. In 2024, the company nearly doubled its projected number of 10G-capable circuit deployments, driven by flexible execution models, agile network design, and relentless focus on customer outcomes.
Key to this success has been Brightspeed’s internal emphasis on cross-functional collaboration—engineering, deployment, and carrier relations teams working together to adapt to evolving customer needs. In an environment where project requirements can shift over a 12-month deployment cycle, Brightspeed’s ability to maintain open communication and operational flexibility has proven critical.
The momentum is set to continue in 2025, with plans to add approximately 2,300 tower upgrades and 400 new tower builds across the company’s 20-state footprint. Every deployment not only meets today's wireless requirements but also positions Brightspeed to support emerging technologies such as private 5G networks, IoT expansion, and distributed AI at the edge.
Preparing for 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Brightspeed is doubling down on its investment in rural network expansion. A second major core build—focused on scaling the company’s 100G+ transport networks—is already underway and expected to complete by year-end. This will further enable 400G and even 800G capabilities across the core, providing the scalability needed to serve hyperscalers, major carriers, and enterprise customers pursuing high-capacity connectivity.
Brightspeed is also exploring next-generation service models, including partnerships for cloud off-ramps, edge compute enablement, and ultra-high-capacity backhaul for 5G densification projects. These innovations will not only enhance Brightspeed’s service portfolio but also reinforce the company’s role as a key infrastructure partner in rural America.
Through its FTTT initiative, Brightspeed is building more than a network—it is laying the foundation for economic growth, digital inclusion, and technology innovation in areas that have long been underserved. With the combination of technical excellence, operational agility, and customer-centric design, Brightspeed is uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise of next-generation connectivity where it matters most.
Tyler Wooden
VP, Engineering & Carrier Relations
Do you have questions about Brightspeed’s Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) initiative?
Delivering the Future: How Brightspeed Is Powering 10G Growth with Fiber to the Tower
In 2025, the promise of ubiquitous 5G connectivity remains unfulfilled for many rural communities across the United States. Despite significant investments and ambitious federal programs, vast regions still grapple with inadequate broadband access.
High-frequency 5G signals require dense networks of antennas, making rural deployment economically challenging. As a result, many rural areas continue to experience patchy coverage, with some reports indicating that 5G only covers 30% to 40% of the land area in most U.S. counties.
These challenges highlight a pressing need for robust, scalable infrastructure solutions that can effectively serve rural populations. Brightspeed’s Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) initiative emerges as a strategic response to this need, aiming to deliver high-capacity fiber connections to wireless towers and, by extension, to the communities that rely on them.
Building a Network for Today—and Tomorrow
Brightspeed launched the FTTT initiative in 2023 with a clear strategic vision: to build a best-in-class network capable of meeting immediate wireless carrier needs while anticipating long-term growth. The goal was not just to enhance existing services but to enable the next wave of bandwidth-intensive applications—from advanced 5G deployments to emerging fixed wireless access (FWA) services.
Recognizing that 5G would dramatically increase backhaul requirements at the tower level, Brightspeed committed early to deploying 10G fiber connections—providing a level of bandwidth that, at the time, wireless carriers could not even fully utilize. By staying ahead of demand, Brightspeed positioned itself as an essential partner for wireless carriers expanding into rural markets and preparing for the future of mobile broadband.
Strengthening the Backbone
Central to the success of the FTTT initiative was the rapid modernization of Brightspeed’s metro and regional networks. In under 18 months, the company completed the buildout of 32 metro Ethernet networks (MENs), upgrading each with a 100G+ transport backbone designed to support 10G tower access at scale.
Brightspeed replaced legacy infrastructure with a transport architecture capable of delivering 88 x 100G wavelengths per device—providing terabit-class capacity and a clear upgrade path to 400G and beyond. This resilient, high-capacity foundation ensures that Brightspeed’s network can meet the growing demands of wireless carriers, hyperscalers, and enterprise customers well into the next decade.
The approach emphasized meticulous sequencing and close carrier collaboration, ensuring that each market build translated into immediate, tangible benefits. By proactively coordinating critical milestones with wireless partners, Brightspeed eliminated delays and enabled seamless tower deployments upon network completion.
Delivering 10G to the Tower: A Transformational Leap
The shift from 1G to 10G connectivity at the tower represents a fundamental transformation in wireless backhaul capability. Prior to this investment, most towers operated with 1G circuits—a significant bottleneck for modern 5G radio access networks (RANs) and FWA services.
Brightspeed’s upgrades deliver a tenfold increase in bandwidth, supporting advanced radio technologies like Open RAN (ORAN) and Centralized RAN (CRAN), which demand higher throughput and lower latency. By future-proofing tower sites with 10G and beyond, Brightspeed is enabling carriers to deliver richer, more reliable services to consumers and businesses alike.
The new architecture is not only higher capacity but also more resilient, leveraging path diversity, low-latency optical design principles, and stringent carrier-grade service level expectations.
Scaling Smart, Moving Fast
Brightspeed’s operational momentum has exceeded initial expectations. In 2024, the company nearly doubled its projected number of 10G-capable circuit deployments, driven by flexible execution models, agile network design, and relentless focus on customer outcomes.
Key to this success has been Brightspeed’s internal emphasis on cross-functional collaboration—engineering, deployment, and carrier relations teams working together to adapt to evolving customer needs. In an environment where project requirements can shift over a 12-month deployment cycle, Brightspeed’s ability to maintain open communication and operational flexibility has proven critical.
The momentum is set to continue in 2025, with plans to add approximately 2,300 tower upgrades and 400 new tower builds across the company’s 20-state footprint. Every deployment not only meets today's wireless requirements but also positions Brightspeed to support emerging technologies such as private 5G networks, IoT expansion, and distributed AI at the edge.
Preparing for 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Brightspeed is doubling down on its investment in rural network expansion. A second major core build—focused on scaling the company’s 100G+ transport networks—is already underway and expected to complete by year-end. This will further enable 400G and even 800G capabilities across the core, providing the scalability needed to serve hyperscalers, major carriers, and enterprise customers pursuing high-capacity connectivity.
Brightspeed is also exploring next-generation service models, including partnerships for cloud off-ramps, edge compute enablement, and ultra-high-capacity backhaul for 5G densification projects. These innovations will not only enhance Brightspeed’s service portfolio but also reinforce the company’s role as a key infrastructure partner in rural America.
Through its FTTT initiative, Brightspeed is building more than a network—it is laying the foundation for economic growth, digital inclusion, and technology innovation in areas that have long been underserved. With the combination of technical excellence, operational agility, and customer-centric design, Brightspeed is uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise of next-generation connectivity where it matters most.
Tyler Wooden
VP, Engineering & Carrier Relations
Do you have questions about Brightspeed’s Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) initiative?
Delivering the Future: How Brightspeed Is Powering 10G Growth with Fiber to the Tower
In 2025, the promise of ubiquitous 5G connectivity remains unfulfilled for many rural communities across the United States. Despite significant investments and ambitious federal programs, vast regions still grapple with inadequate broadband access.
High-frequency 5G signals require dense networks of antennas, making rural deployment economically challenging. As a result, many rural areas continue to experience patchy coverage, with some reports indicating that 5G only covers 30% to 40% of the land area in most U.S. counties.
These challenges highlight a pressing need for robust, scalable infrastructure solutions that can effectively serve rural populations. Brightspeed’s Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) initiative emerges as a strategic response to this need, aiming to deliver high-capacity fiber connections to wireless towers and, by extension, to the communities that rely on them.
Building a Network for Today—and Tomorrow
Brightspeed launched the FTTT initiative in 2023 with a clear strategic vision: to build a best-in-class network capable of meeting immediate wireless carrier needs while anticipating long-term growth. The goal was not just to enhance existing services but to enable the next wave of bandwidth-intensive applications—from advanced 5G deployments to emerging fixed wireless access (FWA) services.
Recognizing that 5G would dramatically increase backhaul requirements at the tower level, Brightspeed committed early to deploying 10G fiber connections—providing a level of bandwidth that, at the time, wireless carriers could not even fully utilize. By staying ahead of demand, Brightspeed positioned itself as an essential partner for wireless carriers expanding into rural markets and preparing for the future of mobile broadband.
Strengthening the Backbone
Central to the success of the FTTT initiative was the rapid modernization of Brightspeed’s metro and regional networks. In under 18 months, the company completed the buildout of 32 metro Ethernet networks (MENs), upgrading each with a 100G+ transport backbone designed to support 10G tower access at scale.
Brightspeed replaced legacy infrastructure with a transport architecture capable of delivering 88 x 100G wavelengths per device—providing terabit-class capacity and a clear upgrade path to 400G and beyond. This resilient, high-capacity foundation ensures that Brightspeed’s network can meet the growing demands of wireless carriers, hyperscalers, and enterprise customers well into the next decade.
The approach emphasized meticulous sequencing and close carrier collaboration, ensuring that each market build translated into immediate, tangible benefits. By proactively coordinating critical milestones with wireless partners, Brightspeed eliminated delays and enabled seamless tower deployments upon network completion.
Delivering 10G to the Tower: A Transformational Leap
The shift from 1G to 10G connectivity at the tower represents a fundamental transformation in wireless backhaul capability. Prior to this investment, most towers operated with 1G circuits—a significant bottleneck for modern 5G radio access networks (RANs) and FWA services.
Brightspeed’s upgrades deliver a tenfold increase in bandwidth, supporting advanced radio technologies like Open RAN (ORAN) and Centralized RAN (CRAN), which demand higher throughput and lower latency. By future-proofing tower sites with 10G and beyond, Brightspeed is enabling carriers to deliver richer, more reliable services to consumers and businesses alike.
The new architecture is not only higher capacity but also more resilient, leveraging path diversity, low-latency optical design principles, and stringent carrier-grade service level expectations.
Scaling Smart, Moving Fast
Brightspeed’s operational momentum has exceeded initial expectations. In 2024, the company nearly doubled its projected number of 10G-capable circuit deployments, driven by flexible execution models, agile network design, and relentless focus on customer outcomes.
Key to this success has been Brightspeed’s internal emphasis on cross-functional collaboration—engineering, deployment, and carrier relations teams working together to adapt to evolving customer needs. In an environment where project requirements can shift over a 12-month deployment cycle, Brightspeed’s ability to maintain open communication and operational flexibility has proven critical.
The momentum is set to continue in 2025, with plans to add approximately 2,300 tower upgrades and 400 new tower builds across the company’s 20-state footprint. Every deployment not only meets today's wireless requirements but also positions Brightspeed to support emerging technologies such as private 5G networks, IoT expansion, and distributed AI at the edge.
Preparing for 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Brightspeed is doubling down on its investment in rural network expansion. A second major core build—focused on scaling the company’s 100G+ transport networks—is already underway and expected to complete by year-end. This will further enable 400G and even 800G capabilities across the core, providing the scalability needed to serve hyperscalers, major carriers, and enterprise customers pursuing high-capacity connectivity.
Brightspeed is also exploring next-generation service models, including partnerships for cloud off-ramps, edge compute enablement, and ultra-high-capacity backhaul for 5G densification projects. These innovations will not only enhance Brightspeed’s service portfolio but also reinforce the company’s role as a key infrastructure partner in rural America.
Through its FTTT initiative, Brightspeed is building more than a network—it is laying the foundation for economic growth, digital inclusion, and technology innovation in areas that have long been underserved. With the combination of technical excellence, operational agility, and customer-centric design, Brightspeed is uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise of next-generation connectivity where it matters most.
Tyler Wooden
VP, Engineering & Carrier Relations
Do you have questions about Brightspeed’s Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) initiative?
