Network news roundup
From Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) milestones in the United States to permitting reform at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), September’s headlines point to accelerating deployment and the infrastructure needed to power AI. The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reported strong progress on Final Proposals, while the FCC teed up rulemakings to cut red tape. At the same time, operators announced fresh construction, grants, and platform moves across both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Infrastructure & innovation
Data centers chase power. Will fiber follow?
Developers are locating facilities where power is available, often outside major metros, and asking carriers to build new long-haul and metro routes to reach them. Executives at Datacloud USA said providers must monetize routes end-to-end, with some pre-deploying optical capacity for rapid turn-ups.
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Lumen advances multi-billion-dollar network build for AI
Lumen detailed 2025 progress toward a plan to reach 47M intercity fiber miles by 2028, including millions of new fiber miles this year, 100k+ route miles enabled for 400G, and hundreds of in-line amplifier sites under construction.
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Lumen takes NaaS to the next level
At its Analyst Forum, Lumen unveiled “Project Berkeley,” a device to extend on-demand internet, Ethernet, and IP VPN to off-net sites over any access type, targeting more than 10M off-net buildings. Rollout expected in 1H26.
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UK Project Gigabit posts annual progress update
Building Digital UK (BDUK), the government agency running Project Gigabit, reported that 152,700 premises were added between April 2024 and March 2025, bringing the program’s total to 1.23 million. Today about 88% of UK premises can access gigabit broadband, and Ofcom expects that figure to rise to roughly 97% by May 2027.
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M&A & market expansion
FiberLight expands East Coast footprint with Metro Fiber Networks acquisition
FiberLight acquired Richmond- and Virginia Beach-based Metro Fiber Networks, adding ~200 route-miles of underground conduit and fiber between the Virginia Beach cable landing station and QTS data center campus in Richmond. CEO Bill Major said the move strengthens FiberLight’s position at the East Coast network edge and supports future subsea cable growth.
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Metronet: US Internet acquisition
Metronet acquired Minnesota-based US Internet. Residential customers will transition to T-Mobile Fiber while commercial customers move to Metronet’s enterprise arm, adding roughly 190k+ passings to T-Mobile’s fiber push.
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Lumos plans $100M, 775-mile build in Greenville County, SC
Local coverage resurfaced Lumos’ Greenville County expansion, totaling more than 775 miles and nearly $100M to extend fiber across the market.
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Funding & builds
Kinetic wins state approvals for $156.6M in BEAD grants
Preliminary state approvals across four states will extend multi-gig fiber to about 52,000 rural homes and businesses, subject to NTIA finalization.
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Security & policy
NTIA: Most states have submitted Final BEAD Proposals
NTIA’s dashboard shows the majority of eligible entities have now filed Final Proposals, with NTIA committing to complete reviews within 90 days and short-term extensions granted to others.
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FCC to vote on easing infrastructure permitting
At its September 30th Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to streamline wireless siting and a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on accelerating wireline builds, including rights-of-way delays and fees.
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AT&T moves copper retirement forward
AT&T has Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval to discontinue copper in about 500 wire centers, roughly 10% of its footprint, while it continues to navigate remaining state approvals.
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Numbers worth noting
- 47 million — Lumen’s intercity fiber-mile target by 2028.
- $156.6 million — Preliminary BEAD grants for Kinetic across four states.
- 775+ miles — Planned Lumos fiber build in Greenville County, SC.
- 36+ — States and territories with BEAD Final Proposals submitted.
- 200 route miles — New underground conduit and fiber added by FiberLight.
- 500 wire centers — AT&T locations approved for copper shutoff.
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