Nextlink Internet announced that it has acquired SkyWave Broadband Internet, an Internet service provider (ISP) operating in Texas and headquartered in Fate, Texas, as a part of Nextlink’s expansion of broadband and voice services in small towns and rural markets in the central United States. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Bill Baker, CEO of Nextlink Internet, said: “We are very happy that the SkyWave team has joined our growing family. In terms of dedication to rural and small community users and overall cultural background, they are very suitable for us among our organizations.”

Bill Baker added: “SkyWave’s footprint covers a large area, including parts of Hunter, Kaufman, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zand counties east of Dallas. We will immediately begin to upgrade and expand the SkyWave network. So that users can access download speeds of 100 megabits per second. We hope to complete these upgrades before the end of 2021.”

Scott Hammond, owner of SkyWave broadband Internet, said: “Nextlink’s expertise and resources will be very useful to our customers and communities. The expansion and upgrade of our network will help adults and students working from home, and help businesses, schools, and hospitals do this so that their work will be better. In addition, as we continue to develop, we will be able to maintain the employee identity that everyone has been familiar with for many years and create more job opportunities in Eastern Texas.”

Ted Osborn, Senior Vice President of Internet Strategy and Regulatory Affairs of Nextlink, added: “Although we have achieved meaningful results at all levels of our business in 2020, the growth strategy for 2021 includes integrating new optical fiber and wireless ISPs to help us serve the rural communities.”