UTOPIA Fiber strikes deal with Bozeman Fiber on $65 million open access network expansion

Utah-based open access network provider UTOPIA Fiber struck a deal to help Montana-based wholesale operator Bozeman Fiber complete a $65 million network expansion. Bozeman Fiber currently runs an open access fiber ring in the city of Bozeman (MT) serving local government and education facilities as well as more than 200 commercial customers. Its new initiative with UTOPIA Fiber seeks to grow that footprint to deliver fiber-to-the-premises to 22,000 homes and businesses there. The three-year project is expected to begin in the first half of 2022. Once complete, the network will offer speeds of up to 10 Gbps for residential customers and 100 Gbps for business customers. Service will be offered through internet providers who purchase capacity on the network. UTOPIA will be responsible for the network design, oversight of engineering and construction, materials management, remote monitoring of the network, provisioning, IT systems, and running a service provider marketplace. Executive Director Roger Timmerman said UTOPIA’s operational partnership with Bozeman Fiber is “absolutely” something that can be replicated in other states interested in an open access model.