Charlotte-area startup Open Broadband is expanding its high-speed internet service to western North Carolina after an acquisition.
Open Broadband announced today it acquired Cashiers-based Pyranah Communications, which has provided internet access to Jackson, Macon and Transylvania counties since 2004. The purchase will extend Open Broadband's footprint to those areas. The local startup currently offers its service in parts of the Carolinas, Virginia and Florida.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"When I decided to sell Pyranah, I wanted to make sure that my customers would be in good hands," said Al Beyer, founder. "Open Broadband is focused on providing affordable high-speed internet in communities just like ours. I knew they were the right company to continue the work we started in 2004."
Open Broadband, founded in 2017, aims to provide affordable high-speed internet to underserved communities in the Southeast. Pyranah's staff will remain with the company, and Open Broadband pledges to continue to invest in the network by offering additional services to further economic development, the local startup said.
"We have always wanted to expand our internet service offerings in western North Carolina," said Alan Fitzpatrick, co-founder and CEO of Open Broadband. "This acquisition affords us the ability to build upon the legacy of customer service that Pyranah has built over the last 18 years."
Kent Winrich, co-founder and chief technology officer of Open Broadband, added that acquiring Pyranah is "just the beginning" for the startup.
"We will continue to make investments in the network and the team to further improve internet speeds and expand access in the area," he said.
Pyranah marks the third acquisition for Open Broadband since 2018. All of those acquisitions were small, local internet service providers.
To determine which communities are in need of its services, Open Broadband identifies where customers are most underserved or cannot afford services through larger providers, CBJ previously reported.
