Ripple Fiber Invests Over $140 Million to Expand Fiber Internet Access in Massachusetts

WEST BOYLSTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 25, 2025--

Ripple Fiber, a fiber optic internet provider based in the Southeast, announces its plans to enter Massachusetts, marking the company’s network expansion into the Northeast. With plans to start construction this spring beginning in Holden and West Boylston, the provider aims to begin launching service by mid-2025, while actively launching expansion markets throughout the state. The anticipated investment for the first phase of this project totals over $140 million.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325374564/en/

“Our entrance into Massachusetts represents a significant achievement in expanding our national footprint, with our upcoming build establishing our presence in the Northeast region,” said Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Ripple Fiber. “The collaborative partnerships we’ve built with each municipality, including West Boylston, are invaluable in shaping and delivering critical infrastructure projects of this scale.”

Construction in additional areas of Worcester, Norfolk and Bristol Counties will begin soon, with announcements to follow in the coming months. As this phase rolls out, Ripple Fiber will open two dedicated offices—one in Worcester County and one in Bristol County—to ensure an enhanced customer experience and demonstrate the provider’s commitment to establishing a strong local presence in every market.

“The West Boylston Municipal Plant looks forward to working with Ripple Fiber. Our customers will soon have high-speed internet service options at competitive rates,” said a representative with the West Boylston Municipal Light Plant.

“We have been very impressed with Ripple Fiber's professionalism and expertise. They've worked well with our town departments, bringing this plan to fruition in a very short time,” added Peter Lukes, Town Manager of Holden. “I know that Holden residents will be thrilled to finally have options when choosing internet providers.”

According to a recent report by Reviews.org, 55 percent of Massachusetts does not currently have access to fiber internet. This means a significant portion of the state is relying on alternative broadband options, highlighting the need for enhanced infrastructure. Providers like Ripple Fiber are working hard to bridge that gap, especially in states with even less availability. Expanding fiber coverage to provide improved internet speed, reliability and accessibility ensures more residents will benefit from high-speed, future-ready connectivity.

With its 10 gig-ready network, Ripple Fiber provides thousands of homes with lightning-fast connectivity that will power regions for decades to come. Whether customers are using their internet for remote work or video streaming, they can rely on this service for exceptional bandwidth and impressive upload and download speeds. Embracing optimism and recognizing the importance of digital access, Ripple Fiber strives to empower its customers by equipping them with the necessary tools to build a bright future.

Once build areas are finalized, the pre-order period will open for interested residents. As the project progresses, homeowners will receive direct updates about the construction process. Residents in the Central Massachusetts area who would like to learn more about Ripple Fiber’s offerings can visit ripplefiber.com and follow along on social media (@ripple.fiber) for updates.

ABOUT RIPPLE FIBER

Ripple Fiber provides thousands of homes with the brightest and fastest fiber internet solutions, powered by a 10 gig-ready, 100 percent fiber optic network. With its patented technology driving rapid expansion, Ripple Fiber is redefining connectivity for communities across North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan. Committed to promoting digital empowerment, Ripple Fiber believes the biggest wave starts as a ripple. For more information, please visit ripplefiber.com.

Courtesy of Ripple Fiber_West Boylston, Massachusetts

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House on Friday in hopes of securing $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s ability to fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum — a plan that rides on their comfort in making commitments in a country plagued by instability, inflation and uncertainty.

Since the U.S. military raid to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as a newfound economic opportunity for the U.S., seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, saying the U.S. is taking over the sales of 30 million to 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned Venezuelan oil and will be controlling sales worldwide indefinitely.

On Friday, U.S. forces seized their fifth tanker over the past month that has been linked to Venezuelan oil. The action reflected the determination of the U.S. to fully control the exporting, refining and production of Venezuelan petroleum, a sign of the Trump administration's plans for ongoing involvement in the sector as it seeks commitments from private companies.

It's all part of a broader push by Trump to keep gasoline prices low. At a time when many Americans are concerned about affordability, the incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices.

The meeting, set for 2:30 p.m. EST, will be open to the news media, according to an update to the president's daily schedule. “At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,” Trump said Friday in a pre-dawn social media post.

Trump is set to meet with executives from 17 oil companies, according to the White House. Among the companies attending are Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, and ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which both had oil projects in the country that were lost as part of a 2007 nationalization of private businesses under Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

The president is meeting with a wide swath of domestic and international companies with interests ranging from construction to the commodity markets. Other companies slated to be at the meeting include Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol.

Large U.S. oil companies have so far largely refrained from affirming investments in Venezuela as contracts and guarantees need to be in place. Trump has suggested on social media that America would help to backstop any investments.

Venezuela’s oil production has slumped below one million barrels a day. Part of Trump's challenge to turn that around will be to convince oil companies that his administration has a stable relationship with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez, as well as protections for companies entering the market.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are slated to attend the oil executives meeting, according to the White House.

Meanwhile, the United States and Venezuelan governments said Friday they were exploring the possibility of r estoring diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that a delegation from the Trump administration arrived to the South American nation on Friday.

The small team of U.S. diplomats and diplomatic security officials traveled to Venezuela to make a preliminary assessment about the potential re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.

Trump also announced on Friday he’d meet with President Gustavo Petro in early February, but called on the Colombian leader to make quick progress on stemming flow of cocaine into the U.S.

Trump, following the ouster of Maduro, had made vague threats to take similar action against Petro. Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart after a friendly phone call in which he invited Petro to visit the White House.

President Donald Trump waves as he walks off stage after speaking to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)