Lumos Brings Its 100% Fiber Optic Internet Into Florida, Offering Nearly Half a Million Homes and Small Businesses Life-Changing Internet Access

HIGH POINT, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 19, 2025--

Lumos, a leading 100% Fiber Optic Internet and Total Home Wi-Fi service provider, today announced its growth into Florida with an investment of nearly 7,500 miles of fiber optic internet. This expansion marks Lumos' eighth state of operation and will bring ultra-high-speed, reliable internet to over 30 communities statewide, passing nearly 500,000 homes and small businesses.

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This expansion marks the company's third new market announced in 2025, kicking off the new year with unprecedented growth. Lumos plans to reach homes and small businesses across the state with its 100% Fiber Optic Internet access, furthering its mission to provide future-proof infrastructure and digital opportunities to underserved communities.

"Reliable, high-speed connectivity isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential," said Brian Stading, CEO of Lumos. "At Lumos, we are committed to providing world-class fiber technology that delivers faster speeds, greater reliability, and an exceptional customer experience. We’re excited to bring our 100% Fiber-Optic Internet to Florida and become a trusted, community-focused partner for years to come."

Lumos will be the first fiber provider for households and businesses in select markets throughout the state. By building cutting-edge technology, Lumos will deliver its ultra-fast 100% Fiber Optic Internet to Osceola, Escambia, Citrus, Lee, Pinellas and Charlotte County.

With its broadband development across the state, Lumos will empower Florida's workforce and businesses, enhance online learning opportunities and ensure reliable access to essential digital services for everyday needs, driving long-term economic and technological growth. The benefits of Lumos' expansion have garnered widespread support from local government representatives.

“Bringing Lumos’ fiber optic internet to Lee County is a major step forward for our community,” said Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman. “Reliable, high-speed connectivity is essential for businesses, education, and everyday life. This investment will not only enhance digital access for our residents but also strengthen our local economy and workforce. We’re excited to support this expansion and the opportunities it brings to our region.”

“Expanding high-speed, reliable internet access across Florida is significant to strengthening our workforce, improving education opportunities, and driving economic growth,” said Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. “The Florida Chamber supports efforts like Lumos’ fiber-optic investment, which will help close the digital divide and ensure more local businesses, students, and families can fully participate in today’s economy.”

“We are excited about the news of this capital investment in Citrus County. High-speed internet access is no longer a want, it is a need to improve the overall quality of life for a community to ensure it thrives,” said Steve L. Howard, Citrus County Administrator.

Engineering work is underway, and construction will begin soon. Once construction begins, residents will receive a mail notification and are encouraged to follow Lumos' social channels for updates.

To find out if your neighborhood will have access to Lumos' 100% Fiber Optic Internet or to enroll in email updates, please visit https://lumosfiber.com/local/fl/.

About Lumos: Lumos delivers 100% Fiber Optic Internet, Whole-Home Wi-Fi, voice, and streaming to over 475,000 homes, businesses, and multi-family buildings across eight Eastern and Midwestern states. We believe that the possibilities of tomorrow cannot be built on the infrastructure of yesterday. That’s why we’re building a 100% Fiber Optic network from the ground up for communities, backed by local, expert customer service. An Internet built for that most hopeful of all things – the future. Because whatever the future holds, we make it faster. Learn more at www.LumosFiber.com.

Facebook: @LumosFiber

LinkedIn: @LumosFiber

With this expansion, Lumos will build nearly 7,500 miles of fiber optic internet to reach almost 500K homes and small businesses. (Photo: Business Wire)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)