Consolidated continues work on fiber-optic network in Harpswell

Internet service provider Consolidated Communications is hitting the streets of Harpswell again to continue building out its Fidium fiber-optic broadband network in the town.

Consolidated is expanding its all-fiber network in Harpswell, Brunswick and Topsham, the company has said. It released a detailed map of the affected areas but no timeline for when the work would be completed. Work on the network expansion began in May 2023, and the utility has ramped up its efforts since then.

Its current work is to extend service further south on Harpswell Neck and across Orr’s and Bailey islands. A Consolidated crew was working along Harpswell Neck Road just north of Mountain Road on Wednesday, April 17.

The company has said it plans to extend the service to most locations on Harpswell Neck and Orr’s and Bailey islands, among other areas. Cundy’s Harbor already has Fidium service and isn’t included in the current buildout effort, according to the company’s map.

Residents should expect to encounter crews digging and climbing utility poles, Consolidated has said, adding that the work may cause temporary traffic detours, noise and dust. The company has asked residents to be patient and advised them to keep an eye out for details in the near future.

“We know this work could be inconvenient for our community and appreciate your patience while we upgrade neighborhoods to 100% fiber internet,” it said in a March news release. “More information on the fiber build progress will be shared with town and city officials, as well as residents.”

Mailers, door hangers and construction alerts will be distributed to keep the public informed, Consolidated said, and Fidium representatives will be visiting neighborhoods to share more about what to expect during construction and how to sign up to be notified as soon as service is ready to install.

The company said residents in areas targeted for expansion can get on a list to be notified when the service is available at their location by visiting fidiumfiber.com.

The Fidium service offers speeds up to 2 gigabits per second, fast enough for several users to simultaneously stream high-definition video or participate in online gaming or videoconferencing. The company is offering introductory prices of $25 a month for 300 megabits-per-second downloads, $45 for 300 Mbps, $65 for 1 gigabit per second, and $85 for 2 gigabits.

More than 99% of Harpswell residents already have access to broadband service through cable giant Comcast, which offers residential service under the brand Xfinity.

Xfinity offers speeds of up to 1.2 gigabits per second, a little more than half the speed Fidium is advertising. Only large households with multiple heavy internet users would likely require download speeds of more than 1 gigabit per second, but that could change as technology advances.

Brian Lippold, president of Embden-based internet consulting firm Casco Bay Advisors LLC, has said Harpswell is fortunate to have a dense enough population to support multiple broadband providers.

He serves as a consultant to Harpswell and completed a broadband planning report for the town in January 2023. Lippold noted at the time that existing services still fell slightly short of the town’s goal of achieving full broadband access to all locations.

Clarification: This story was updated 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, to clarify that Cundy’s Harbor already has access to Fidium service.

Have a comment or news tip? Email J. Craig Anderson at craig@harpswellanchor.org.