Cumberland County residents will soon have a new option for home internet service as a new fiber optic internet network company opens for business.
BrightSpeed, which was founded in 2022 and is headquartered in Charlotte, aims to connect the more than 138,000 homes and businesses across Cumberland County that are slated for fiber-optic connections, said Jean Rodriguez Miller, director of public relations. To date, the company has brought more than 5,300 customers and businesses in Fayetteville online, she said.
“We are committed to improving our customer experience and are investing billions of dollars to deploy our fiber optic broadband network in areas like Fayetteville that lack quality options for high-speed internet service,” Miller said.
BrightSpeed aims to support internet speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, or 1 gigabit, he said. In Cumberland County, both Spectrum and MetroNet offer similar speeds, including 1-gigabit internet packages.
What is Brightspeed?
According to a March news release, the new fiber network will use XGS-PON technology to provide increased giga-speed capabilities and more reliable service. The network will support a variety of activities, including working, learning, streaming and gaming on multiple devices simultaneously, according to the release.
“Families and businesses have likely already seen our trucks in their neighborhoods as our crews work to bring Brightspeed trucks online,” the press release stated.
Miller said the company is currently building out its network and expects to complete the planned network build within the next few months.
“Our prices fluctuate and are subject to seasonal promotions, and we encourage Cumberland County residents to visit www.Brightspeed.com to check availability and pricing,” he said.
BrightSpeed plans to invest $2 billion in building out its network to serve more than 3 million homes and businesses across 20 states, with a focus on improving access to high-speed internet in areas with limited options, and is seeking state and federal funding to further expand its network in North Carolina, the company said in a statement.
How does Brightspeed compare to other providers in the area?
While Brightspeed promises to support internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, other providers in the Fayetteville area, such as Spectrum and Metronet, also offer 1 Gigabyte packages for Cumberland County residents, though prices vary by provider. All three companies offer fiber optic internet options, but internet speeds vary by area.
He said service would vary by address and there was “no guarantee that all addresses would have 1 gig speeds as some addresses may not be included in the build plans.”
Price Comparison
Spectrum offers 1 gigabyte of internet starting at $79.99 per month, depending on location, according to its website. This is the company’s fastest internet package.
According to MetroNet’s website, the company offers 1GB of internet starting at $49.99 per month, with 2GB and 5GB packages available for $89.95 and $109.95 respectively, but prices vary depending on the address.
BrightSpeed offers 1GB of internet starting at $75 per month, with a 2GB package available for $99 per month, according to the company’s website, but services and prices vary by address.
Reporter Lizmarie Evans covers growth and development for the Fayetteville Observer. She can be reached at LEvans@gannett.com.
