Across North Carolina, demand for fast, stable internet access has accelerated. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal plains, daily life now runs on connectivity. Remote work has become permanent for thousands, virtual learning shapes tomorrow's classrooms, and telehealth usage has increased exponentially. In this environment of rapid digital transformation, communities require more than just decent internet—they need ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and consistent uptime.

Ripple Fiber has stepped into this critical space with a mission to modernize North Carolina’s broadband landscape. Through advanced fiber-optic technology, Ripple is enabling smarter homes, stronger businesses, and seamless digital experiences in cities and towns previously underserved. As the state's tech-driven future unfolds, Ripple Fiber isn’t following the momentum—it’s helping create it.

Shaping the Digital Landscape: What is Ripple Fiber?

Redefining Internet Service in North Carolina

Ripple Fiber is a fiber-optic internet service provider focused on delivering high-speed connectivity through state-of-the-art infrastructure. Unlike traditional broadband or cable-based ISPs, Ripple Fiber deploys fiber-optic technology directly to homes, businesses, and multi-unit dwellings, ensuring symmetrical upload and download speeds, lower latency, and future-ready scalability. From the ground up, every mile of its network is built to support modern digital demands—from 4K video streaming to cloud-based workflows and beyond.

Focused on Growing and Underserved Communities

Ripple Fiber operates with a mission: expand access to high-capacity internet in communities historically left behind by legacy providers. That means targeting neighborhoods and municipalities that big-name telecom ignored or underserved. Whether it's a mid-sized urban block with outdated copper lines or a rural community that's struggled with satellite downtime, Ripple Fiber prioritizes these regions for development. By narrowing digital disparities, their network becomes a foundation for local advancement, enabling economic growth, educational access, and household efficiency.

Designed for Long-Term Satisfaction

The company builds more than just nodes and cables—it builds long-term relationships with customers. Ripple Fiber structures service plans that avoid hidden fees and long-term contracts, reinforcing trust and transparency. Installation and customer support teams are employed locally, providing not just employment but frontline assistance from professionals who know their communities. Every connection carries a guarantee of responsiveness—technical issues don’t linger in call center queues, they get resolved promptly by people on the ground.

Ripple Fiber Network Expansion: Bringing Future-Ready Internet to NC

Timeline and Key Milestones Across Counties

Ripple Fiber began its North Carolina expansion in early 2023, targeting counties with significant broadband gaps. The first phase delivered gigabit service to specific areas in Guilford, Randolph, and Alamance counties. By Q2 2024, active construction widened coverage across Union and Forsyth counties, with more construction scheduled through 2025.

Each project follows a structured build-out schedule: initial planning and permitting, infrastructure trenching and aerial line deployment, fiber splicing, followed by home and business connections. Major milestones include:

• Q1 2023: Initial groundwork and permitting across four Piedmont counties.
• Q4 2023: Over 30,000 feet of underground fiber conduit laid in rural Randolph County.
• Q2 2024: First 1,000 homes activated with symmetrical gig-speed internet in Union County.
• Projected Q1 2025: Service launch in key unserved census tracts in the northeastern region.

Concentrating on Rural and Suburban Accessibility

Ripple Fiber isn’t chasing only dense urban centers. The expansion strategy prioritizes small towns and rural zones where legacy internet providers underperform. In places like Liberty, NC, and rural stretches of Rockingham County, trenching teams operate seven days a week to push fiber deeper into underserved neighborhoods and farmland corridors.

This approach closes critical connectivity gaps and empowers residents who rely heavily on distance learning, telehealth, and remote work. Unlike cable or DSL, Ripple's fiber deployment guarantees the same upload and download speeds regardless of geography.

Aligning with Community Infrastructure and Development Goals

Every city development plan Ripple enters becomes part of a broader vision. The coordination between local governments and Ripple’s planning teams weaves fiber installation into ongoing utility enhancements and road improvements. For example, fiber lines in Mebane were installed alongside new stormwater infrastructure, streamlining costs and minimizing disruption.

Ripple also collaborates with county planners to ensure network design considers future growth, zoning shifts, and industrial development footprints. The result: high-capacity fiber infrastructure that anticipates—not reacts to—community evolution.

Engaging Local Neighbors, Contractors, and Volunteers

Infrastructure expansion happens faster with community participation. Ripple’s rollout model includes hiring North Carolina-based contractors for trenching, splicing, and cabling. Micro-trenching crews in Davidson County, for instance, hired directly from local vocational training programs.

In addition to job creation, neighborhoods contribute to awareness programs. Volunteers distribute information packets and attend open-house events where residents can meet engineers and see the mapping progress firsthand. This bottom-up approach fosters trust and keeps residents informed about when gigabit service will reach their street.

The Tangible Advantages of Fiber-Optic Internet in North Carolina

Faster Speeds That Keep Up With Modern Demands

Fiber-optic technology delivers symmetrical internet speeds — meaning upload and download rates match. This capability transforms everyday experiences: large media files upload in seconds, video calls maintain crystal-clear resolution, and 4K content streams with zero buffering. On Ripple Fiber’s network, households in North Carolina can reach gigabit speeds, far exceeding what traditional DSL or cable lines can deliver.

Low Latency and High Uptime for Seamless Connectivity

Latency — the measure of delay in data transfer — directly affects gaming, video conferencing, and cloud applications. Fiber-optic connections drastically reduce latency, often achieving sub-20 millisecond ping times. That translates to real-time responsiveness in multiplayer games and uninterrupted collaboration on virtual platforms like Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. Additionally, fiber infrastructure is less susceptible to weather interference and electromagnetic noise, resulting in significantly higher uptime and service reliability.

Infrastructure That Anticipates Tomorrow’s Technology

While traditional broadband struggles to adapt, Ripple Fiber’s all-fiber infrastructure already supports next-generation digital environments. The rise of smart thermostats, voice-controlled assistants, intelligent security systems, and interconnected home sensors demands bandwidth, stability, and speed. A single Ripple-connected home can simultaneously support multiple IoT devices without bottlenecks or drop-offs — even during peak usage hours.

Stable Internet for Work, Learning, and Healthcare

For professionals relying on cloud-based software like Adobe Creative Suite or Salesforce, fiber ensures instantaneous file syncing and persistent connectivity. Students accessing virtual classrooms, submitting assignments, or engaging in group Zoom sessions stay connected without hiccups. In healthcare, where telehealth platforms require secure, HIPAA-compliant, high-bandwidth channels, fiber-optic networks can transmit real-time diagnostic imaging, support remote consultations, and enable continuous patient monitoring. Ripple Fiber’s network meets these demands consistently, enabling North Carolinians to work, learn, and receive care with confidence.

Unshakable Speed and Stability: Ripple Fiber’s Performance Edge

99.9% Uptime and Symmetrical Speeds—Delivered Daily

Ripple Fiber maintains a track record of 99.9% uptime across its North Carolina service areas. This level of reliability translates to fewer service interruptions and nearly unbroken connectivity. Unlike traditional cable connections that throttle upload speeds, Ripple’s network architecture supports symmetrical speeds—meaning upload and download rates match. Whether a user is hosting a Zoom webinar or transferring large design files to cloud storage, the experience remains frictionless.

Productivity Without Interference

Remote professionals, online learners, and telehealth users benefit directly from Ripple Fiber’s balanced speed and robust reliability. Platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, and Zoom consume substantial upstream bandwidth. In homes with multiple concurrent users, symmetrical fiber connections remove the bottlenecks that cable and DSL users still face. For daily use, this eliminates lag during video calls, prevents buffering during livestreams, and accelerates file uploads and software updates.

Peak Hours Don’t Steal Bandwidth

Many providers struggle during peak usage windows—typically in the evenings when households stream, game, and browse simultaneously. Ripple Fiber’s FTTH (Fiber to the Home) network bypasses that congestion. Each user gets a direct fiber line without shared bandwidth limitations, maintaining full speed throughout the day. Peak hour slowdowns that plague DSL and coaxial cable never show up on Ripple’s service logs.

Engineered Against the Weather

North Carolina’s weather can sideline traditional infrastructure with relative ease. Summer thunderstorms, hurricanes along the coast, sudden freezes in the mountains—each poses a risk to aerial cable networks. Ripple Fiber’s lines run underground. Buried fiber cables are immune to wind, unaffected by ice accumulation, and shielded from falling tree limbs. This installation strategy minimizes weather-related outages and ensures year-round connectivity across urban, suburban, and rural installations.

• Always-on reliability: 99.9% uptime sets the standard for continuous coverage.
• Upload as fast as you download: No waiting, no throttling—just equal performance both ways.
• Underground durability: Fiber optic lines stay protected beneath the surface.
• Consistency at any hour: No slowdown even when everyone in the neighborhood is online.

Think About This

How often do you pause uploads to stream? Have video calls dropped during storms? Ripple Fiber removes these common frustrations entirely. It doesn’t just promise consistent internet—it has engineered a system where inconsistency simply doesn't occur.

Comparing Internet Service Providers in North Carolina

Ripple Fiber vs Legacy Providers: A Performance Gap

Legacy ISPs in North Carolina—cable, DSL, and satellite providers—have relied on outdated infrastructure for decades. Cable internet, typically delivered via coaxial lines, experiences slower speeds during peak usage hours because of shared bandwidth. DSL, limited by distance from central offices, delivers average speeds well below FCC broadband standards in many regions. Satellite, while available in rural areas, suffers from latency issues, weather dependency, and data caps.

Ripple Fiber eliminates these bottlenecks. With a 100% fiber-optic network, users access symmetrical speeds—upload and download—that cable and DSL simply can't match. Where cable users may see 300 Mbps download with only 10 Mbps upload, Ripple customers consistently experience gigabit speeds in both directions. Satellite’s typical latency hovers around 600 milliseconds, while Ripple Fiber maintains ultra-low latency well below 20 milliseconds, crucial for real-time applications like videoconferencing and gaming.

Cost Efficiency: Speed and Value on a New Scale

Price-to-performance ratio plays a key role in customer choice. In North Carolina, national cable providers charge between $70 and $100 monthly for plans delivering between 300 Mbps and 600 Mbps—often with promotional caveats and hidden fees.

Ripple Fiber offers gigabit internet starting at competitive flat monthly rates—no introductory gimmicks, no data caps, no throttling. Customers pay for what they get: consistently fast, reliable service that supports multiple users, high-definition streaming, cloud computing, and more—simultaneously.

Customer Experience: Ratings, Responsiveness, and Real Stories

Speed and price matter, but customer service is often the deciding factor for users switching providers. Traditional ISPs in North Carolina receive an average customer satisfaction score of 60 out of 100, according to a recent ACSI survey. Slow response times, long call queues, and delayed issue resolution continue to frustrate users.

Ripple Fiber users report significantly higher satisfaction rates. Service tickets are typically addressed within 24 hours, and localized support teams understand specific regional challenges.

James R., a small business owner in Greensboro, shares: “With our old provider, we lost service at least once a month. Since switching to Ripple six months ago, we’ve had zero outages—and tech support calls actually get answered.”

Ashley T. from Wilmington adds: “We needed fast upload speeds for my work-from-home setup and my son’s Twitch streams. Ripple came through with symmetrical gig speeds that simply work every time.”

• DSL and cable: Asymmetrical speeds, outdated infrastructure, and unreliable peak-hour performance.
• Satellite: High latency, weather sensitivity, and restrictive data caps.
• Ripple Fiber: Consistent gigabit service, symmetrical speeds, low latency, and responsive local support teams.

North Carolina residents with access to Ripple Fiber report both technical and customer service improvements almost immediately after switching. The contrast becomes even more evident in regions where traditional ISPs have underinvested for years.

Digital Inclusion in Action: Bridging North Carolina’s Connectivity Gap

Across North Carolina, access to dependable, high-speed internet remains uneven. Neighborhoods only a few miles apart can face vastly different online experiences. Ripple Fiber is reversing that trend—methodically, intentionally, and in partnership with local communities.

Expanding Opportunities in Historically Underserved Communities

Fiber broadband alters what's possible, particularly in neighborhoods that have been marginalized by traditional providers. High-capacity symmetrical speeds enable remote work, telehealth appointments, online education, and digital entrepreneurship. In areas where DSL or satellite connections stall progress, Ripple Fiber’s infrastructure brings these opportunities close to home.

Take for example the eastern parts of Greensboro and Fayetteville, where legacy networks once limited digital mobility. Ripple’s fiber rollout introduces 10 Gig-ready infrastructure capable of supporting multiple devices concurrently, without slowdowns—replacing prohibitive upload speeds of under 5 Mbps with upstream performance exceeding 1 Gbps.

Working with Cities and Counties to Improve Access and Affordability

Ripple Fiber collaborates directly with municipalities and regional authorities to close access gaps. These partnerships focus on:

• Coordinating infrastructure deployment—leveraging existing rights-of-way, minimizing disruption, and expediting construction timelines.
• Supporting affordability initiatives—integrating with federal and state-backed programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to lower monthly costs.
• Developing digital equity plans that align broadband access with workforce development, education, and healthcare goals.

For instance, in Durham County, Ripple Fiber collaborates with local digital equity task forces to strategically prioritize neighborhoods facing systemic connectivity shortfalls. These targeted deployments ensure that high-performance fiber isn’t just available downtown—it reaches every zip code.

Enabling True Digital Equality

Fast internet alone doesn't eliminate the digital divide. Ripple Fiber contributes to long-term digital equity by focusing on equal opportunity. Whether it's enabling students to access cloud-based tools or allowing rural entrepreneurs to maintain e-commerce storefronts, fiber service acts as a leveling force.

Ripple Fiber’s symmetrical bandwidth eliminates the constraints typical of legacy networks—critical for creators uploading media, high school students video conferencing with instructors, and teachers managing real-time digital classrooms.

Promoting Internet Literacy Through Community Engagement

Infrastructure is only one part of the equation—knowledge unlocks potential. Ripple Fiber participates in and hosts community outreach events in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem to build internet literacy. These initiatives focus on:

• Hands-on workshops for seniors and school-age children
• Trainings on safe internet practices and data privacy
• Guided navigation of online services, from college applications to job portals

In 2023 alone, Ripple Fiber co-hosted over 40 neighborhood engagement events across North Carolina, providing support in English and Spanish, helping residents understand how to maximize fiber connectivity inside their homes.

Digital inclusion doesn’t happen organically. It requires focused effort, sustained collaboration, and technical investment—and Ripple Fiber integrates all three across its North Carolina deployments.

Rural Broadband Development: Connecting Every Corner of the State

Overcoming Isolation: Tackling Broadband Deserts and Terrain Obstacles

Across North Carolina, from the Appalachian foothills to low-lying coastal plains, rural communities face persistent gaps in broadband infrastructure. These areas, often isolated by geography and low population density, have historically fallen outside the reach of high-speed internet expansion driven by private investment. In counties like Graham, Tyrrell, and Hyde, limited access to reliable service has stalled educational advancement, diminished economic opportunities, and strained healthcare delivery.

Ripple Fiber approaches these challenges with a ground-up strategy. Instead of relying solely on legacy infrastructure, the network builds out high-capacity fiber lines directly into underserved zones. In mountainous regions where trenching is expensive and time-consuming, Ripple Fiber uses a combination of aerial installations and micro-trenching to adapt to terrain without compromising quality or speed.

Public-Private Partnerships Fuel Rural Connectivity

State and federal funding has accelerated rural broadband deployment through targeted grants and cooperative programs. Ripple Fiber participates in the North Carolina GREAT Grant Program, which allocates funds to internet service providers expanding service in unserved and underserved counties. In the 2023 fiscal year alone, the program awarded over $260 million in matching funds across 130 projects statewide, creating new pathways for high-speed internet access in rural pockets.

Ripple Fiber stands out by aligning with these grants to co-invest in long-term network buildouts. By combining public funds with private capital, the company scales faster and reaches deeper into broadband deserts. Current collaborations extend into Pitt, Edgecombe, and Columbus Counties, where partnerships with local governments remove bureaucratic delays and streamline construction approvals.

Live Construction Zones and Measurable Progress

Dozens of rural fiber installation projects are simultaneously underway. In Mitchell County, more than 42 miles of fiber have been laid since Q2 of 2023, connecting households that previously relied on outdated DSL. In Jones County, live installations began in late 2023, with more than 1,200 new service addresses added to the network map by early 2024.

Construction updates are made publicly available through Ripple Fiber’s regional access maps, displaying real-time progress by zip code. Field logistics teams coordinate with county officials and local utility crews to minimize disruption, ensuring that even the most remote addresses are included in each build phase.

Life After Installation: Rural Residents Share Their Stories

• Kevin M., a farmer in Duplin County, now uses automated irrigation scheduling linked via Ripple Fiber. “Before, I was relying on notes and guesswork. Now I’ve got real-time moisture data and weather patterns feeding directly to my phone.”
• Linda G., a retired educator in Alleghany County, shared that remote health monitoring became possible after her service went live. “My blood pressure cuffs sync with my doctor’s office now. That’s made a huge difference—I feel safer at home.”
• Stephanie and David R., parents of three in Bertie County, highlighted the impact on their children’s school performance. “They can now submit homework online without waiting hours. Even virtual field trips are smooth, no lag, no excuses.”

Each of these voices tells more than an individual story—they embody the effect of infrastructure where it matters most. The investment is permanent, the results measurable.

Affordable Fiber Internet Plans for Families and Businesses

Ripple Fiber designed its pricing model to reflect the economic diversity of North Carolina households and businesses. By offering a clear tiered structure, Ripple ensures that both small families and growing enterprises access high-performance internet without financial strain.

Tiered Pricing Structures Tailored for Every Budget

Monthly pricing aligns with usage needs, not blanket packages. Whether supporting remote learning or scaling cloud infrastructure, the plans scale with purpose:

• Basic Home Plan: Speeds up to 300 Mbps ideal for standard browsing, video streaming, and schoolwork. Priced for accessibility without compromising capacity.
• Everyday Family Plan: With symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps, this option fits busy households with multiple connected devices.
• Premium Residential Plan: Supports gigabit-plus speeds for those running smart-home ecosystems or remote workstations.
• Business Packages: Custom bandwidth profiles starting at 500 Mbps and scaling beyond 10 Gbps, tailored to industry-specific demands.

Low-Cost Options Without Compromising Speeds

Ripple Fiber offers qualifying low-income residents discounted rates through partnerships with state digital access initiatives. These baseline plans provide robust upload and download speeds, matching the technical performance of full-cost tiers.

Scalable Internet Solutions Built for Business Growth

Business users face dynamic digital workloads. From retail and healthcare to logistics and high-volume data firms, Ripple's solutions deliver:

• Dedicated bandwidth configuration to manage customer usage spikes without latency setbacks
• Redundant fiber ring architecture that ensures 99.99% uptime performance for critical operations
• Expandable network services that grow in bandwidth and service capability through modular upgrades

Multi-location businesses benefit from Ripple’s managed fiber solutions, integrating locations seamlessly with fiber-to-the-premise technology.

Affordability That Fuels Digital Literacy and Innovation

Accessible fiber plans don’t just lower bills—they drive outcomes. Households with reliable high-speed connections report increased educational attainment, especially in hybrid learning environments. Entrepreneurs in connected communities adopt cloud-based tools and digital storefronts faster, boosting economic output. Smart city infrastructure runs more efficiently when underpinned by scalable and affordable fiber backbones.

How does your current internet plan support your growth? Ripple Fiber's pricing models make advanced connectivity available where it’s needed most: homes nurturing students, businesses investing in innovation, and towns preparing for digital transformation.

Smart Living Starts with Fiber: How Ripple Fiber Powers North Carolina's Connected Homes

Fiber-Optic Internet: The Foundation of the Smart Home

Ripple Fiber internet in North Carolina delivers the advanced bandwidth and ultra-low latency that modern smart homes require. While traditional copper-based infrastructure buckles under the weight of multiple connected devices, fiber-optic networks respond with consistent gigabit speeds and symmetrical upload and download rates. For homes filled with devices demanding real-time communication—from doorbell cameras to voice-activated assistants—this difference reshapes daily life.

Devices Built for a Fiber Future

Ripple Fiber supports a growing network of smart devices without bottlenecks or signal interference. Smart thermostats like Nest and Ecobee use AI to optimize HVAC usage based on occupancy patterns. Security systems such as Arlo or Ring require constant two-way data streaming to enable live viewing and cloud-based storage. Voice assistants including Amazon Echo and Google Nest rely on persistent, high-speed connections to seamlessly interact with the cloud and control other smart devices on command.

• Home Surveillance Systems: HD video feeds stream in real-time, accessible from anywhere without buffering.
• Voice-Controlled Hubs: Faster responsiveness from smart speakers controlling lights, appliances, and media centers.
• Energy-Saving Thermostats: Reliably sync temperature data with the cloud to automatically adjust settings based on real-time inputs.
• Smart Locks and Sensors: Instant alerts and remote control ensure peace of mind even when away from home.

Simultaneous Connections Without Sacrifice

In a typical household, multiple family members often use bandwidth-heavy apps and devices concurrently. Ripple Fiber's symmetrical gigabit speeds remove the threshold issues seen with DSL or coaxial cable. Whether backing up gigabytes of files to cloud storage while streaming 4K content or running home automation routines during a video conference, Ripple Fiber maintains full responsiveness across all connected devices.

Upload Power That Fuels the Cloud

Unlike legacy broadband where upload capacity often throttles cloud performance, Ripple Fiber's symmetrical connections elevate all aspects of smart home efficiency. Upload speeds of up to 1 Gbps allow faster syncing of surveillance videos, real-time home automation routines, and remote device access. The result: smart homes that operate with minimal latency and zero compromise—an experience cable simply can’t emulate.

Living in a connected home powered by Ripple Fiber means every device in your ecosystem performs smoother, faster, and with precision—no pauses, no delays. Want your lights to dim, blinds to fall, thermostat to lower, security camera to activate, and playlist to queue—all with a single voice command? With fiber, every part of that sequence executes instantly and in perfect harmony.

Reimagining Internet Access in North Carolina

North Carolina isn't waiting for the future of broadband—it’s building it with Ripple Fiber. Across cities, small towns, and rural communities, this advanced fiber-optic network has begun transforming what it means to be truly connected. Upload and download speeds now match the pace of modern life. Zoom calls don’t drop. Streaming never buffers. Smart homes operate without a hitch. Businesses upload large files in seconds instead of minutes.

Ripple Fiber’s infrastructure translates tech ambition into daily reality. By deploying 100% fiber-to-the-premises connections, the service eliminates the lag and signal degradation found in copper-based networks. What does this mean for North Carolinians? Uninterrupted performance during peak hours, smooth integration with evolving smart devices, and enough bandwidth for every member of the household—simultaneously.

But tech performance is only one half of the equation. Ripple Fiber brings affordable monthly plans tailored for households, students, and businesses across every demographic. This isn’t premium access for the few—it’s quality internet for the many. And wherever the digital divide threatens to limit connection, Ripple’s partnerships with local leaders and digital inclusion programs close the gap with decisive infrastructure investment.

Reliability, affordability, and community-first thinking shape the Ripple Fiber difference. Whether you're launching a startup, running a remote classroom, or streaming a 4K movie on three devices at once, Ripple’s symmetrical gigabit speeds keep everything moving forward without interruption.

• Faster uploads and downloads: Essential for creators, remote workers, and digital-first households.
• Smart home compatibility: Built to handle connected thermostats, assistants, security cameras, and more.
• Stronger neighborhood networks: Fiber supports local competitiveness and unlocks innovation street by street.

What would your day look like without buffering, dropped meetings, or signal congestion? Ripple Fiber isn’t just building infrastructure—it’s delivering freedom, speed, and possibility to thousands of North Carolinians. The question isn’t when the future will arrive. It already has.