Florida Construction News staff writer

IQ Fiber says construction has begun on its 100 percent fiber-optic network in Northwest Gainesville and Alachua County, with a phase one estimated cost of $40 million.

The North Central Florida expansion marks the company’s first major network expansion outside of the Jacksonville region. The company has established a satellite office in Northwest Gainesville and is hiring over 30 employees to support the expansion.

“It has always been a policy priority of mine to extend broadband competition in our community,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, Jr. “I’m pleased to see IQ Fiber expanding into the Gainesville market, and I hope their presence here will create a variety of opportunities for all our neighbors.”

Construction launch coincides with IQ Fiber’s two-year anniversary. Since its founding in 2021, IQ Fiber has built more than 600 miles – more than 3 million feet – of fiber-optic cable across North Florida. In 24 short months, the company built and lit its network in Jacksonville and has grown from the original founders to more than 100 local employees.

“We are excited to announce the start of construction and will be working quickly to provide Gainesville residents with a superior choice for internet service,” said Ted Schremp, CEO of IQ Fiber. “In just two years, we have established a significant presence across North Florida and delivered on our promise to streamline the customer experience in a way that no other provider in the market has been able to achieve.”

The network consists of underground conduit and fiber-optic cables extending from the core internet backbone directly into individual homes, allowing for the fastest internet speeds available while supporting the explosive growth in internet usage and demand.