HUDSON OAKS, TX, and MILPITAS, CA – Nextlink Internet, a multi-state internet service provider (ISP) dedicated to serving rural America, and Tarana, manufacturer of the Gigabit 1 (G1) wireless broadband platform, announced today the completion of new network infrastructure in Wise County, Texas, significantly improving the rural county’s access to high-speed internet. The partnership has been recognized nationally, receiving a 2023 National Association of Counties Achievement Award.
Nextlink used G1 for last-mile coverage in Wise County, making broadband speeds of up to 500 Mbps available to more than 65,000 residents and covering 877 square miles. This deployment fulfills the requirements of the company's agreement with the county, which allocated $1.3 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to expand broadband access. In addition, Nextlink is providing gigabit fiber service to 20 county offices and has opened a permanent field office, creating 15 full-time jobs.
The honorable Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said, “We thank all of our federal, state, and local partners that have worked together to make this project a reality. This investment in broadband has allowed us to reach some of our most rural residents with next-generation connectivity quickly and cost-effectively. Nextlink has been a wonderful partner to ensure that the folks across Wise County — from Crafton to Rhome, Greenwood to Cottondale, and all areas in between — have the opportunity for best-in-class broadband.”
Bill Baker, founder and CEO of Nextlink Internet, said, “Our mission of bringing great broadband to rural Texas and beyond continues. We were very pleased to partner with Wise County and Tarana to efficiently cover this community. With the power of hybrid infrastructure, fiber, and next-gen fixed wireless together, we can leverage both technologies in a complementary way to bring excellent internet to rural areas much sooner. We had 1,000 customers on Tarana G1 within a month after deploying towers.”
Basil Alwan, CEO of Tarana, added, “We are proud to be a part of Nextlink’s progress toward closing the digital divide in rural regions of the U.S. Our G1 system was designed to be a perfect complement to fiber and, when implemented together, they really deliver that elusive win-win. With ngFWA, governments and service providers can partner to connect their communities with no-compromise, high-speed internet in record time and at a fraction of the cost of fiber alone."
A variety of data plans are available in Wise County, including plans under the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which allows qualifying residents to receive free 25 Mbps service.
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