On March 8, Metronet officially launched its highly anticipated network in downtown Fayetteville.

Metronet is a leading provider of100 percent fiber optic internet.

This infrastructure allows broad- band speeds to be able to hold, Kathy Scheller, the director of government relations for Metronet told Greater
Fayetteville Business Journal last year, because the only devices attached to your strand of fiber are yours. 

Fiber-optic cable is available in roughly 14 percent of the country, according to Metronet, whereas coaxial cable is widely available in 84 percent of the country. The use of coaxial cable, which was invented in the mid-1800s, has reached its maximum speed and cannot accommodate high speeds as readily that are needed for streaming and other technology. Fiber optic, which was created in the 1960s and 1970s, can continue to accommodate increased speeds as technology evolves.
The launch took place at the CORE Innovation center adjacent to the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation’s offices where community leaders gathered to commemorate the occasion.

The CORE is a military and technology focused accelerator that offers “rentable private offices, demonstration space, conference rooms and a

rooftop reception space, overlooking downtown Fayetteville,” a press release said. Metronet showed their support of the CORE by donating
their ultra-high-speed internet service to the accelerator.
“Our future-proof network has proven valuable to the cities we partner with, and we are excited to bring that opportunity to Fayetteville,” said Dave Heimbach, Metronet President and Chief Operating Officer. “Metronet is proud to support the CORE Innovation Center by providing one Gigabit of upload and download speeds for the next five years. Our services will allow local entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses and
promote further economic growth for the city."
“Advanced world-class internet access is an essential component of innovation. This connectivity is crucial for military and technological

innovation, which the CORE accelerator space was developed to support,” said North Carolina Representative John Szoka. “We are thankful that Metronet is now delivering gigabit speeds to drive digital transformation within our local community, boosting the efficiency of our businesses and the productivity of our people.”

Upon the completion of the under- way construction, Metronet will span much of Cumberland County, including Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Linden,

Wade, Stedman, Godwin, Eastover, Falcon, and Spring Lake.

Metronet will also provide service to parts of Hoke County, such as Raeford and Rockfish. 

Cumberland County Commission Chairman Glenn Adams said, “More than ever, our citizens are relying on fast internet to work, learn and engage. Deploying a high-speed and affordable telecommunications service is critical to help bridge the digital divide.”
“Study after study has found that access to advanced data infrastructure positively impacts education, economic mobility, and health,” stated North Carolina Senator Kirk deViere. “Affordable access to broadband technology has the potential to create opportunities and change lives. Metronet’s telecommunications services expand access to unserved and underserved areas of our community, and we are thankful to everyone spearheading this effort.”

The $70M investment was announced in January 2021, and construction began in March 2021. Those who would like to learn more about the construction process can visit construction.metronetinc.com to see the progress throughout their community.
“Metronet’s infrastructure is a vital advancement for our community,” said City of Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin. “We’re thrilled to become the next ‘Gigabit City.’ We also need to thank the Fayetteville Public Works Commission for their active collaboration and support in facilitating the construction process. We are grateful that Metronet chose Fayetteville and Cumberland County for their first North Carolina deployment and welcome them to our community.”

Metronet is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The company has constructed networks and offers services in over 100 communities in
Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina and Florida.