Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) has begun offering its Glo Fiber brand in the initial neighborhoods of Zanesville, Ohio, adding roughly 12,000 homes and businesses to its fiber‑optic portfolio. The service is delivered through Shentel’s 18,000‑mile regional network and uses XGS‑PON technology to provide symmetrical speeds of up to 8 Gbps. Construction of the Zanesville deployment is slated for completion by summer 2026, after which residents can check availability or subscribe via the Glo Fiber website.
The launch is part of Shentel’s broader fiber‑first strategy, which has seen the company expand its network across eight contiguous states—Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and two others. By adding 12,000 new passings in Zanesville, Shentel moves closer to its 2026 target of 550,000 fiber passings, a 20% increase over the 440,000 passings projected for the end of 2025. The expansion also strengthens the company’s competitive position in markets where broadband options are limited, allowing Shentel to capture market share and offer higher‑speed, reliable service to both residential and small‑business customers.
Financially, Shentel’s Glo Fiber segment has been a key driver of growth. In Q2 2025, Glo Fiber revenue rose 40.5% year‑over‑year to $18.4 million, while data subscribers increased 43.1%. The company’s Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded from 27% in Q2 2024 to 32% in Q2 2025 and further to 33% in Q3 2025, reflecting the margin‑enhancing impact of the Horizon Telcom acquisition and the scale of the Glo Fiber network. Capital expenditures reached $83.2 million in Q1 2025, largely driven by investments in the Horizon markets and the Glo Fiber build‑out. The Zanesville launch is expected to add incremental revenue and margin contribution as the network reaches full capacity.
CEO Christopher E. French emphasized that the expansion demonstrates Shentel’s ability to execute on its fiber‑first strategy and to deliver high‑quality service. “The Zanesville deployment is a testament to our disciplined execution and our commitment to bringing world‑class broadband to underserved communities,” he said. COO Ed McKay added that the company’s focus on customer service and network reliability will differentiate Shentel in a competitive market, “and the new passings in Zanesville will reinforce our reputation for dependable, high‑speed connectivity.”
The expansion into Zanesville positions Shentel to capture a growing demand for high‑speed internet in the region, where competition is limited and broadband adoption is rising. By adding 12,000 new passings, Shentel not only increases its revenue base but also enhances its network scale, which supports future service expansions and potential commercial opportunities. The move aligns with the company’s long‑term goal of achieving 600,000 homes on fiber by the end of 2026 and underscores its strategy of leveraging acquisitions and organic growth to maintain a competitive edge in the broadband market.
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