The multi-million-dollar investment includes core network enhancements, resiliency improvements, next-generation hardware upgrades, expanded multi-gig capabilities, and customer equipment modernization. All efforts aim to ensure that LFT Fiber continues to deliver reliable, future-ready connectivity for homes and businesses across the region.

“We are committed to providing our community with the latest technology to meet their growing demands,” said Eric Grimmett, Chief Engineer of LFT Fiber. “These upgrades represent a crucial step forward in enhancing the reliability and speed of our services, ensuring that Acadiana remains at the forefront of connectivity.”

“For over 20 years, this community-owned network has helped position Acadiana as a leader in connectivity,” said Michael D. Soileau, Director of LFT Fiber. “These investments are about making sure we continue leading for the next 20 years.”

Among the most significant projects is a major upgrade to the network’s backbone ring infrastructure, increasing long-term network capacity and positioning LFT Fiber for future multi-gig service offerings, including the already announced 2 Gig and 6 Gig tiers.

Additional modernization efforts include:

• Upgrades to core network hardware to strengthen reliability and performance
• Investments in hut infrastructure and cooling systems to support long-term resiliency
• Ongoing replacement of aging network equipment across the system
• Planned upgrades to approximately 4,000 older exterior residential devices to improve long-term reliability and performance
• Migration of phone services to a cloud-based platform to improve resiliency and continuity

The first phase of residential phone system migrations is scheduled to begin May 14 and will continue in phases over approximately 45 days.

The investments reflect the advantages of a community-owned model, in which infrastructure improvements are reinvested directly in the region by local employees and local contractors.

“This network was purposefully built for Acadiana, and we are dedicated to investing into Acadiana,” added Soileau.

The modernization initiative will also help LFT Fiber better manage growing bandwidth demands and optimize network performance during peak usage periods as internet usage continues to evolve.

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