Workers installing fiber infrastructure in Windham. Fidium Fiber plans to extend its statewide fiber network into the Lakes Region for the first time. Contributed / Fidium Fiber

Fidium Fiber is expanding its coverage into the Lakes Region, developing fiber infrastructure that will provide service to more than 9,600 homes in Windham, Gorham and Standish.

In a press release, Fidium Fiber is described as a “customer-centered, consumer fiber broadband service,” and is already available in eight states, including Maine, where it connects 270,000 homes and businesses. However, the Windham project is its first foray directly into the Lakes Region.

Sarah Davis, vice president of market development, explained that Consolidated Communication Holdings Inc., Fidium’s parent company, has spent the last four years progressively working to upgrade its territory and transition customers onto a fiber network, and has identified Windham as an excellent location to start building a local fiber network.

Davis said she sees fiber expansion as a way of spurring economic growth for rural communities that have not previously had reliable internet access. She noted that bringing fiber to areas covered under the Fidium network brings with it reliable broadband, which allows customers within the networks to be well connected to Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings, run online businesses and participate in telehealth meetings, as well as helping students do their homework and engage in class during periods of remote learning. Technologies prior to fiber, she said, did not allow for users to take part in these activities at the same scale that fiber does.

In the leadup to the fiber installation, Fidium has embarked on a PR blitz throughout Windham. It has distributed mailers, door hangers and construction alerts, and sent representatives to neighborhoods to share more about what to expect during construction and how to be notified quickly once the service is installed. According to Davis, reception from the community to the project has been overwhelmingly positive. After Fidium posted on Windham’s community page, it received a wave of responses, with residents asking if Fidium can connect their house, and saying that they can’t wait to have Fiber installed.

“There’s a lot of excitement,” said Davis. “People in Windham have really only had a single choice in internet provider. A few might not even have a solid choice. They’re excited to have a fiber network that can provide better service.”

Fidium is currently in the process of laying out fiber and building infrastructure in Windham. Davis expects installation to be completed in full by March 2025, with some areas of the town expected to receive coverage at an earlier date. Ultimately, Davis said, Fidium’s goal is to get at least 70% of their network covered with fiber by 2027.