Lumos is shelling out over $100 million for a fiber-optic expansion in South Carolina; the project will see nearly 1,200 miles of fiber built out to businesses and residents across the state.

The fiber firm was formed by a joint branding this summer between North Carolina’s NorthState Virginia’s Lumos Networks with a grand goal to bring over 20,000 miles of fiber optic network and reach 1 million businesses and residents by 2026.

Engineering work is set to begin in the middle of the year with construction commencing “shortly after,” according to the release. The service will offer 5 Gbps x 5 Gbps upload and download speeds.

This new expansion targets under-connected populations across various South Carolina areas including: Columbia, West Columbia, Lexington, Cayce, Irmo, and Springdale in Lexington County, as well as Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes in Richland County. Various council chairmans from the counties offered statements in the release, calling the fiber access a "priority" and "necessity in today's society."

"This partnership will catapult us across the digital divide and keep us competitive in terms of economic development," Richland County Council Chairman Overture Walker added.

Lumos CEO Brian told SDxCentral in an earlier interview that the company's “focus is on communities that are not currently serviced with a fiber network and that are efficient extensions of our existing network.”

With the bigger 2026 vision of taking their household base to 1 million, the “ambition is a 5x increase in 5 years,” Stading explained. “Our growth plans require a strong network of partners across the spectrum from fiber-optic manufacturers to engineering and construction firms.”

The latest announcement is the first to begin fulfilling Stading’s reported plans to “significantly expand outside [the] legacy footprint” of North Carolina and Virginia into other mid-Atlantic regions. “Fiber is internet innovation,” Stading added. “Not only does fiber have unlimited data capacity and speed, but it’s also reliable, accessible, and most importantly, ready for whatever the future holds.”