UTOPIA FIBER ANNOUNCES RECORD NUMBERS IN 2023, COMPLETING FIVE OPEN ACCESS FIBER BUILDS IN UTAH

Nation’s Largest & Most Successful Community-Owned Network Exceeds 60,000 Subscribers, Demonstrates Remarkable Year-Over-Year Growth

New Operational Partnership Model Launched in Bountiful and Already Releasing Footprints

Murray, UTAH (February 20, 2023) – After 14 years of consecutive growth, UTOPIA Fiber released its 2023 numbers today showing a record number of five city buildouts in one year and attaining over 60,000 subscribers—half of whom joined in the last 3-4 years. The community-owned fiber network also achieved superior levels of customer satisfaction, with a 4.6 Google Rating and a net promoter score of 60—which is considered exceptionally high—and is the highest-ranked internet company in Utah and among the highest in the United States. Additionally, UTOPIA Fiber placed 2.7 million linear feet of fiber in 2023, enough to encircle Salt Lake City almost seven times, connected 23,059 homes, 1,272 businesses, 41 Homeowner Associations (HOAs), and added 8,233 new residential subscribers.

“This past year has been one of UTOPIA Fiber’s best yet,” said Roger Timmerman, Executive Director, UTOPIA Fiber. “By partnering with communities across Utah and the West, we’ve built vital infrastructure that aims to ensure residents and businesses benefit from fast, reliable, and affordable fiber internet connectivity, while leveraging UTOPIA’s expertise and proven track record in efficient network operation, maintenance, and exceptional customer service.”

Most notably in 2023, UTOPIA Fiber launched a new operational partnership model—Bountiful Fiber powered by UTOPIA Fiber—the first-of-its-kind collaboration in Utah. The project received unanimous city approval and broke ground in August 2023, after a comprehensive three-year research and evaluation process by the city. Engaged and passionate Bountiful City residents organized and successfully fought back against a dark money-funded misinformation campaign aimed at obstructing and significantly delaying the construction of their community-owned network. UTOPIA Fiber has already begun releasing the first completed footprints of the Bountiful Fiber network in record time.

Here’s how UTOPIA Fiber’s 2023 numbers add up:

• $35.63M new financing secured
• 1.5 million linear feet of underground conduit installed
• 2.7 million linear feet of fiber-optic cable placed
• 5 new fully connected cities in Utah:
  • Orem, Cedar Hills, Pleasant Grove, Syracuse, and Santa Clara
• 14 new footprints released
• 23,059 new homes connected
• 41 Homeowner Associations (HOAs) connected
• 8,233 new residential subscribers
  • Overall, 62,000+ subscribers, half of whom joined in the last 3-4 years
• 1,272 new businesses connected
• New Gig customer signups: 5,397 | Total Gig customers: 25,779
• New 10 Gig customers: 37 (residential) | Total 10 Gig customers: 143
• 4.6-star overall Google rating
  • 2000+ reviews
• 60 Net Promoter Score (NPS)
  • On a scale of –100 to 100
  • With most national incumbents below zero or barely breaking the double digits

“The magic of UTOPIA Fiber is that we are by and for the people in the communities we serve,” explained Timmerman. “Residents and city officials were tired of waiting for fast internet to become available in their communities. They took the matter into their own hands—correctly characterizing fiber as vital infrastructure and demanding more choice and affordable pricing. We continually build networks that deliver among the fastest speeds in the United States, consistent reliability, and the freedom to choose your own Internet Service Provider (ISP)—most of which are fantastic local Utah companies themselves.”

Notably, since 2009, UTOPIA has designed, built, and financed nearly half-a-billion dollars worth of successful community broadband projects in Utah and the West. When UTOPIA Fiber comes to town, it brings more than fiber availability, it introduces real competition and choice. Today, the UTOPIA network has placed fiber infrastructure that provides access to approximately 200,000 businesses and residences in over 50 communities.

UTOPIA Fiber is an inter-local agency providing Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services in 21 Utah cities and in 50 cities for business class service. As an Open Access network, UTOPIA Fiber builds fast and reliable fiber infrastructure, and enables residents to choose from 15 private-sector ISPs—creating more competition and keeping the internet pricing affordable.

Communities interested in partnering with UTOPIA Fiber and residents and businesses seeking UTOPIA Fiber service can visit utopiafiber.com for service maps, build-out timelines, and other information.

About UTOPIA Fiber  

Created by a group of Utah cities, the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) is a community-owned fiber optic network that uses the Open Access model to promote competition by giving customers the freedom to choose which telecommunication services they want. With fiber availability to approximately 200,000 businesses and residences in over 50 communities, UTOPIA Fiber is the largest and most successful Open Access network in the United States and enjoys the industry’s highest customer satisfaction scores. Since 2009, the agency has successfully designed, built, and operated nearly half-a-billion dollars worth of fiber projects throughout Utah and the West, including operational partnerships with Idaho Falls, Yellowstone Fiber, and Bountiful Fiber, all of which have been funded by bonds which are paid back through subscriber revenue. For more information visit www.utopiafiber.com.