Wecom Fiber Wins US$195m to Expand Arizona Broadband

Wecom Fiber has been awarded US$195 million in funding by the State of Arizona in the US to expand high-speed broadband connectivity across rural and underserved areas. It will deploy fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructure across 17 project areas and eight counties, delivering access to more than 66,000 homes and businesses.

The award represents the largest single allocation under Arizona’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) programme, totalling US$967m in funding as part of the state’s broadband expansion initiative.

The programme is administered by the Arizona Broadband Office and approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Wecom is backed by Searchlight Capital Partners, which manages more than US$16bn in assets and has a portfolio of broadband investments across the United States and international markets.

The company intends to combine the BEAD funding with private capital to ensure long‑term deployment and operational readiness.

“This historic broadband investment will change lives for the better across Arizona by ensuring every corner of our state has access to reliable, high-speed internet,” says Wecom’s CEO, Paul Fleming.

“Wecom is honoured to be the largest single awardee of BEAD dollars and sincerely grateful for the trust placed in us,” he adds.

State leadership outlines broadband strategy

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs says the funding aligns with the state’s broader goal of extending digital access across communities of all sizes.

“Opportunity for every Arizonan means access to fast, affordable, reliable internet, no matter your zip code,” says Katie. “With this historic investment, we’re not just closing the digital divide, but also opening doors to economic opportunity in every corner of our state.”

According to the Arizona Commerce Authority, which oversees the state's broadband strategy, the BEAD programme marks the single-largest investment in digital infrastructure in state history.

Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Authority, says the focus now moves to implementation.

“With final BEAD approval, we are moving full speed ahead to connect every household and community with high‑speed internet,” says Sandra. “We’re grateful to Governor Hobbs, our federal and state partners and the thousands of Arizonans who helped shape this plan through their input and engagement.”

Each BEAD‑funded project will target counties identified through public consultation. In Yavapai, Coconino and Mohave Counties, Wecom will construct fibre routes extending across multiple localities.

Other deployment zones include Navajo, Pinal, Maricopa, Gila and La Paz Counties. It will coordinate work with local entities to align backbone routes and backhaul interconnection with statewide fibre networks.

Searchlight Capital supports the Arizona network build

Paul describes the BEAD award as a significant step in expanding Wecom’s existing regional footprint. Founded in Kingman nearly 70 years ago, Wecom began as a telecommunications provider before shifting focus to broadband delivery for residential and enterprise users.

Its fibre network now anchors key regional connectivity links supporting voice, broadband and enterprise communications.

Darren Glatt, Chairman of Wecom and Partner at Searchlight Capital Partners, says the investment will establish new backhaul capacity and edge connectivity throughout the state.

“This critical investment in broadband will enable thousands of miles of fibre infrastructure to support jobs and economic development and ensure Arizona homes and businesses have access to the reliable, high‑speed internet they need – regardless of zip code,” says Darren.

“The digital divide ends where Wecom fibre broadband begins,” he adds.

Searchlight Capital’s support will enable Wecom to leverage procurement scale and long‑term finance, ensuring continuity through the construction and commissioning phases.

The collaboration aligns with the firm’s wider strategy of backing open‑access and regional fibre operators across rural North American markets.

Wecom Fiber expands regional connectivity footprint

The new network will integrate with Arizona’s middle‑mile infrastructure and interconnect with telecom and data providers delivering last‑mile services.

The large‑scale rollout supports future 5G and fixed‑wireless backhaul potential, improving service reliability for both rural and urban populations.

Wecom’s fibre design strategy includes scalable architecture suitable for symmetrical gigabit and multi-gigabit service delivery.

The model supports broadband expansion under state targets to achieve universal service in combination with other federal initiatives.

The Arizona Broadband Office indicates that construction on initial zones will begin following final engineering and permitting reviews. Wecom is preparing to coordinate with municipal authorities, energy suppliers and right‑of‑way managers across identified corridors.

For Arizona’s telecommunications ecosystem, Wecom’s BEAD‑supported deployment represents a structural commitment to closing long‑standing service gaps while building capacity for emerging digital service models such as smart community networks, remote healthcare and connected learning.