Hawaiian Telcom invests $223 million to expand fiber internet to include Maui: Maui Now

Continuing its efforts to bridge Hawaii’s digital divide, Hawaiian Telcom invested more than $223 million in private capital in 2023 to further expand its future-proof fiber network. This gives you access to Fioptics, a fast and reliable fiber broadband service. This investment will also increase network capacity and support solutions for residential, business and wholesale customers.

“As the culmination of 140 years of building connectivity here in Hawaii, last year we reached the halfway point of fiber optic expansion across the state,” said Hawaiian Telecom President Sue Shin. “Our team once again exceeded expectations, and in addition, over 64,000 homes and businesses gained access to his fiber network, the largest number we have achieved in one year.” .”

Approximately 337,000 locations in Hawaii now have access to Hawaiian Telcom’s 100% fiber Internet service, Fioptics. Fioptics offers the state’s fastest upload speeds of 500 megabits per second (Mbps) and download speeds of 1 Gigabit.

“Broadband access is critical to improving the lives of residents across the Hawaiian Islands,” said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, who leads Hawaii’s statewide broadband effort, Connect Kakou. “Hawaiian Telecom’s efforts to bridge the digital divide are having a huge positive impact, from education to health care and everything in between.”

In 2023, Hawaiian Telecom’s fiber expansion included all of Lanai and more than 95% of Molokai, Pahoa and Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island, and portions of Wailuku, Keehei and Makawao on Maui. , Lihue and Kilauea on Kauai. CNT, a technology website specializing in product reviews and the latest news in technology, has rated Hawaiian Telcom as the lowest priced internet provider in Honolulu.

Fiber optic cables carry 10,000 times more bandwidth than traditional copper cables, allowing for faster upload speeds and a better experience for services like video calls and security cameras. In addition to faster data transmission, fiber optic cables are more energy efficient, durable, and less susceptible to things like water and electromagnetic interference.

Hawaiian Telcom is the only Hawaiian Internet service provider that has invested more than $1 billion in network expansion, support and customer service over the past 10 years. Hawaiian Telcom plans to make fiber available to 60,000 additional locations in 2024.

Residents and businesses can visit hawaiiantel.com/fioptics to see if their location is eligible for Fioptics.