Haverhill has signed an agreement with another Internet vendor offering fiber to the home, and Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said plans by GoNetspeed look promising.
The company, that describes itself as the Northeast’s largest independent fiber internet provider, said Tuesday construction is expected to begin next year, with the first customers connected as the network build progresses.
“It would be good if somebody can string together the city because it would give people options, and that’s what we were looking for. Nobody has an exclusive, but I think GoNetspeed can really do this,” Barrett told WHAV.
The mayor said GoNetspeed has been looking at Haverhill about as long as a similar vendor, Ripple Fiber, that was supposed to have begun offering service this past summer. Another provider, Breezeline, cancelled plans to wire Haverhill at the start of 2025.
“Expanding competition is essential to ensuring Haverhill residents and businesses have access to the fast, reliable connectivity they deserve,” said David Allen, GoNetspeed senior vice president of network operations.
Stephen Maher, Ripple’s director of governmental affairs, told WHAV last spring the company would start stringing wires from existing utility poles last June and the service will be offered on a rolling basis. “As soon as we run the wires in front of a house, the resident can sign up for service,” he said. Last July, however, Eaton Fiber bought Ripple Fiber, building on an earlier arrangement with Verizon.
GoNetspeed said it plans to bring its 100% fiber-optic network to Haverhill and is backed by a privately funded initial investment of $23 million. It plans to deliver data transfer speeds of up to six gigabits per second to more than 17,500 Haverhill residents and businesses. It is already accepting advance sign ups at gonetspeed.com/ma/haverhill/.
The company will also provide fiber connectivity to all municipal locations within its network footprint.