Ubiquity breaks ground on open-access fiber system in Georgetown, Texas

Ubiquity, a private infrastructure investment firm that develops and manages critical communications infrastructure throughout the United States, broke ground Wednesday on a new open-access fiber system it is installing throughout Georgetown.

Ubiquity initially plans to invest $75 million to establish fiber connectivity across Georgetown. Installation work will begin simultaneously in the northwest and southeast sections of Georgetown. Construction is expected to take two to three years to complete. The project will provide connectivity for 80 percent of residents and 95 percent of businesses in Georgetown, with the first customers expected to come online in summer 2022.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ubiquity and its open-access fiber system to Georgetown,” Mayor Schroeder said. “As connectivity and internet access become increasingly important, Ubiquity’s impact to our residents and businesses — both existing and those to come — will benefit all of us for decades to come.”

Ubiquity’s open-access model makes the fiber system available to multiple tenants, including any local and national cable and internet service providers, as well as other technology platforms, such as 5G wireless cell sites. This approach reduces the cost and disruption of construction for providers looking to expand to Georgetown and maximizes connectivity choice to residents, businesses, and anyone bringing connected solutions to the city.

“We see how cities are changing, and we view high-speed communication networks just like we view other utilities like water, electricity, and gas,” Ubiquity Managing Director Greg Dial said. “They are simple necessities we count on every day to live our lives. Ubiquity’s goal is to ensure that access is seen across not only this city but other cities surrounding Georgetown.”

Ubiquity’s infrastructure provides flexible capacity, fueling connectivity growth for Georgetown over the next 20-plus years. Regardless of the technology adopted over this time, open-access fiber connectivity will be available to support it quickly and economically.

Plans are underway for continued growth of the Ubiquity fiber network in the greater north Austin area, with additional announcements expected throughout 2022 and 2023.

For more information about Ubiquity, visit ubiquitygp.com.

Updated: Frequently asked questions

Q: Can we see a map that shows the neighborhoods that will receive service and when the service will be available?

A: We are unable to share maps of the areas to be provided and when specific neighborhoods will come online. Per Ubiquity, maps of planned build areas are subject to change due to a variety of conditions and also can be used by other builders in an attempt to block build progress.

Here’s the latest status, as of May 25, 2022:

• Initial permits are submitted, and you should start seeing construction work happening around town as early as next week.
• Fiber build work will begin simultaneously in the northwest and southeast sections of Georgetown in an attempt to maximize coverage across different parts of the city. This also allows Ubiquity to move quickly into neighboring areas. Ubiquity is also building a data center on Ronald Reagan Boulevard and expects to serve customers with their fiber network in areas down Hwy. 29 and bordering Liberty Hill, along with the initial build zones in Georgetown and Sun City, by end of summer.
• Construction is expected to take two to three years to complete, but Ubiquity expects to have as many as 5,000-7,000 addresses completed by end of the year. As addresses are passed, one or more of the internet service providers who will use the network will reach out to residents, generally within 60 days of completion of an area.
• The project will provide connectivity for 80 percent of residents and 95 percent of businesses in Georgetown, with the first customers expected to come online around August.

Q: Is Ubiquity providing internet service?

A: Ubiquity’s network is ‘multi-tenant capable’, meaning they can allow for as many internet service providers as have interest on the fiber network. Ubiquity already has one signed up, FiberFirst  www.fiberfirst.com, that is taking early sign up interest currently. Ubiquity will be in charge of soliciting other internet service providers to use their infrastructure, but should any reach out to the City, we would be more than happy to connect them.