i3 Broadband
i3 Broadband is a privately held fiber-to-the-home internet service provider delivering symmetrical gigabit broadband (up to 8 Gbps), voice, and streaming TV to roughly 100,000 residential and business customers across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida, currently subject to a $700M T-Mobile/Wren House joint venture acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersEast Peoria, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What i3 Broadband does
i3 Broadband is a privately held fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) internet service provider headquartered in East Peoria, Illinois, delivering 100% fiber-optic broadband to approximately 100,000 residential and commercial customers across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida. The company's network runs dedicated fiber directly to each premises — distinguishing it from cable "fiber-powered" competitors that rely on shared coax segments — and supports symmetrical speeds ranging from 150 Mbps to 8 Gbps with 99.99% network reliability. Beyond core fiber internet, the company bundles Digital Phone/VoIP, streaming TV and DIRECTV partnerships, and i3 Smart Wi-Fi (a Plume-powered mesh networking service). Founded in 2003 and rebranded under the i3 Broadband name in 2016, the company is currently owned by London-based Wren House Infrastructure.
The business model is anchored in monthly recurring residential subscriptions priced on a flat-fee basis with no data caps and no contracts, supported by multi-year price guarantees (3–5 years), a $4.99/month Service Assurance Plan, and equipment/voice upsells. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer online sign-up (i3broadband.com) with a field sales team targeting MDU property owners for bulk services (MDUConnect) and a Director of Community Affairs role dedicated to securing municipal rights-of-way and rights-of-way agreements across Northern and Central Illinois, Missouri, and other served markets. Customer acquisition is amplified by a 50%-bill-discount referral program, community partnerships (e.g., MCCOG membership), and earned media including a 10+ year A+ BBB rating and Broadband Now rankings (Top 5 fastest fiber provider nationwide for three consecutive years).
The company scaled via M&A — completing the June 2023 acquisition of Big River Broadband and its subsidiary Circle Fiber with a planned $100 million investment in Southeast Missouri — and is now subject to a transformational event: in April 2026, T-Mobile US and Wren House Infrastructure announced a definitive 50/50 joint venture agreement to acquire i3 Broadband for approximately $700 million (implied ~$2.1B post-money valuation), expected to close in H2 2026. The transaction adds roughly 500,000 passings to T-Mobile's fiber footprint and supports T-Mobile's stated goal of reaching 18–19 million total broadband customers (including 3–4 million fiber customers) by 2030.
i3 Broadband firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- i3 Broadband
- Legal name
- i3 Broadband, LLC
- Website
- https://i3broadband.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- i3 Broadband is a privately held fiber-to-the-home internet service provider delivering symmetrical gigabit broadband (up to 8 Gbps), voice, and streaming TV to roughly 100,000 residential and business customers across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida, currently subject to a $700M T-Mobile/Wren House joint venture acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
i3 Broadband industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fiber Internet Services
- NAICS
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Operators (HDAIACAB), Residential/Broadband ISPs (Consumer Internet) (HDAIADAA), Residential Broadband CPE (DSL/Cable/Fiber Gateways) (HDAFAIAA)
Keywords
Where i3 Broadband is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Peoria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
i3 Broadband business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Residential Internet Service: Monthly subscription fees for fiber internet service at various speed tiers. Priced on a flat-fee basis plus taxes and government fees. No usage-based fees or data caps. Promotional pricing with 5-year price guarantees available (e.g., 2 Gig at $79.99/mo, 1 Gig at $59.99/mo, 600 Mbps at $49.99/mo). Requires Auto Pay and online bill for promotional rates.
- Service Assurance Plan: Monthly subscription at $4.99/month covering inside wiring repair, technician visits at no charge, and replacement of i3 Broadband equipment within the home. Provides peace of mind for wiring issues not covered by standard service.
- Digital Phone / Voice Service: VoIP landline service bundled with internet plans, including unlimited domestic long distance. International calling charged on a per-minute basis with rates varying by country. Gold and Silver plan tiers with additional features such as Online Voicemail, Call Forwarding, and Conference Calling.
- MDU / Bulk Services: Bulk internet service agreements with multi-dwelling unit (MDU) property owners where internet cost is included in rent, creating an additional revenue stream for property owners. Property owners pay i3 Broadband for fiber infrastructure and bulk service, while tenants access service included in rent.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | 2 GIG plan — $79.99/mo for 60 months (5-year price guarantee) |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1 GIG plan — $59.99/mo for 60 months (5-year price guarantee) |
| Subscription | Monthly | 600 Mbps plan — $49.99/mo with 5-year price guarantee |
| Subscription | Monthly | 325 Mbps plan — $35/mo with 3-year price guarantee |
| Subscription | Monthly | 150 Mbps plan — $29.99/mo |
| Subscription | Monthly | Service Assurance Plan — $4.99/mo |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment fees (Illinois and Missouri) |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Contract Buyout Credit — up to $300 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
i3 Broadband product offering
Product offeringCore offering
i3 Broadband provides 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) internet service with symmetrical gigabit speeds up to 8 Gbps, plus digital phone and streaming TV options. The company serves residential, business, and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) customers across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida, delivering service over an underground fiber-optic network rated at 99.99% reliability.
Product overview
i3 Broadband offers a unified fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband service portfolio centered on 100% fiber internet connectivity with no contracts and no data caps. The core Fiber Internet product delivers symmetrical speeds from 150 Mbps to 8 Gbps across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida. Value-added services include i3 Smart Wi-Fi (Plume-powered mesh networking), Streaming TV and DIRECTV options, Digital Phone with unlimited US/Canada calling, and MDUConnect for multi-dwelling properties. The company operates acquired brands Circle Fiber and Big River Broadband in the Midwest. Business Services provide commercial-grade fiber solutions. The company was acquired by Wren House Infrastructure and as of 2026 is subject to a joint venture acquisition by T-Mobile.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fiber Internet 100% fiber-to-the-home internet service offering symmetrical upload and download speeds ranging from 150 Mbps to 8 Gbps, with no data caps and no contracts, for residential and business customers across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida.
- i3 Smart Wi-Fi Cloud-connected mesh Wi-Fi system powered by Plume technology with adaptive performance, parental controls, AI-powered security against malware/ransomware/phishing, and motion detection via smart devices, offered to residential fiber internet subscribers.
- Streaming TV Streaming television service that allows customers to access streaming TV options through an integrated streaming marketplace for content delivery, offering alternatives to traditional cable packages.
- DIRECTV Satellite television service offered through partnership, providing access to broadcast and cable television programming for residential subscribers.
- Digital Phone VoIP home phone service with unlimited local and long distance calling to the US and Canada, international calling at competitive per-minute rates, voicemail, call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, conference calling, and optional battery backup for power outage operation.
- MDUConnect Multi-dwelling unit fiber internet solution offering bulk and retail service options for property owners and managers of apartments, condos, single-family communities, and mixed-use developments, providing tenants with 100% fiber connectivity while creating additional revenue for property owners.
- Business Services Business-class internet and telecommunications services for commercial customers, offering fiber connectivity solutions tailored to business needs with additional terms of service applicable to business subscribers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.99% overall network reliability
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use i3 Broadband
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
i3 Broadband technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
i3 Broadband partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- T-Mobile USflagshipT-Mobile US announced definitive agreements to form a 50/50 JV with Wren House to acquire i3 Broadband for approximately $700 million, targeting closure in H2 2026. T-Mobile will acquire 50% stakes in the venture, adding approximately 500,000 households to T-Mobile's fiber footprint. i3 Broadband will continue operating as a brand, expanding T-Mobile's convergence strategy combining fiber and wireless services. This is part of T-Mobile's broader goal to reach 18-19 million broadband customers including 3-4 million fiber customers by 2030.
- McHenry County Council of Governments (MCCOG)minori3 Broadband joined the McHenry County Council of Governments (MCCOG), a regional organization representing local governments across McHenry County, Illinois. The membership strengthens collaboration with municipal leaders and officials who shape infrastructure planning and community development in the Chicago suburban region. The partnership reflects i3 Broadband's ongoing Northern Illinois expansion strategy.
- Big River Broadbandcorei3 Broadband completed the acquisition of Big River Broadband, expanding its fiber-optic services throughout Illinois and Missouri. The acquisition allows i3 Broadband to leverage existing infrastructure and service upgrades of Big River Broadband. i3 Broadband planned to invest an additional $100 million to grow the southeastern Missouri market. The deal leverages existing infrastructure to enhance service offerings across multiple communities.
- Circle Fibercorei3 Broadband completed the acquisition of Circle Fiber (a subsidiary of Big River Broadband), expanding fiber-optic services in Illinois and Missouri. Circle Fiber is referenced as one of i3 Broadband's local subsidiaries in the Terms of Service. The acquisition integrated Circle Fiber's infrastructure and customer base into i3 Broadband's operations.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
i3 Broadband competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Ziply Fiber: Fiber-to-the-home operator in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana). While geographically separate from i3's Midwest footprint, Ziply Fiber is structurally comparable as a regional fiber ISP operating true FTTH with symmetrical speeds and similar customer-friendly policies.
- Midco: Regional fiber and cable broadband provider serving the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas). Midco's fiber-to-the-home and HFC mix, including legacy DOCSIS operations, parallels i3's combined fiber + HFC footprint (RI).
Emerging players
- GoNetspeed: Emerging fiber-to-the-home operator building out across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. GoNetspeed competes directly with i3 in Illinois-adjacent markets and represents the wave of well-capitalized new fiber entrants expanding i3's competitive set.
- Brightspeed: Recently formed fiber builder backed by Apollo, upgrading legacy DSL/copper infrastructure across the Midwest and South to fiber. Brightspeed's multi-state fiber expansion overlaps with i3's Illinois and Missouri geographies and represents a comparable mid-scale fiber peer.
Broad incumbents
- Comcast Xfinity: Dominant cable/broadband incumbent across the Midwest with overlapping Illinois, Missouri, and Rhode Island markets. While primarily a cable HFC operator, Comcast's ongoing fiber upgrades and bundled wireless offering make it i3's largest incumbent competitor for residential and MDU customers.
- AT&T Fiber: Large incumbent telecom expanding FTTH coverage across Illinois, Missouri, and Rhode Island. While not focused exclusively on fiber-to-the-home, AT&T Fiber competes head-to-head with i3 in major Midwest metros using similar symmetrical gigabit speeds and bundled service offerings.
- Google Fiber: National fiber-to-the-home operator backed by Alphabet, offering symmetrical gigabit and multi-gig services in select U.S. cities. While not active in i3's core Midwest geographies today, Google Fiber's potential expansion represents a strategic threat to any fiber ISP scaling a regional footprint.
Direct peers
- Metronet: Direct fiber-to-the-home competitor operating across the Midwest and South, including overlapping markets in Illinois (e.g., Lake County) and Missouri. Metronet offers symmetrical gigabit fiber with comparable pricing and speed tiers, making it i3 Broadband's most immediate direct rival.
- Frontier Communications: Major fiber-to-the-home operator in the Midwest and Northeast with overlapping geographies in Illinois and Rhode Island. Frontier's aggressive fiber upgrade program and similar speed tiers position it as a comparable regional peer for both residential and MDU customers.
- TDS Telecom: Regional fiber and broadband provider serving rural and suburban communities across the Midwest, including Illinois and Missouri. TDS offers comparable symmetrical fiber services to small-town and suburban customers overlapping with i3's footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
i3 Broadband social profiles
Digital presencei3 Broadband compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
i3 Broadband financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
i3 Broadband leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
i3 Broadband subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
i3 Broadband funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
i3 Broadband M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about i3 Broadband
What does i3 Broadband do?
i3 Broadband provides 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) internet service with symmetrical gigabit speeds up to 8 Gbps, plus digital phone and streaming TV options. The company serves residential, business, and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) customers across Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Florida, delivering service over an underground fiber-optic network rated at 99.99% reliability.
Is i3 Broadband a public or private company?
i3 Broadband is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was i3 Broadband founded?
i3 Broadband was founded in 2003. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is i3 Broadband based?
i3 Broadband is headquartered in East Peoria, United States, in the North America region.
How does i3 Broadband make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Residential Internet Service is the primary driver. The others are service Assurance Plan, digital Phone / Voice Service and MDU / Bulk Services.
Who are i3 Broadband's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Ziply Fiber and Midco. Emerging players are GoNetspeed and Brightspeed. Broad incumbents are Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber. Direct peers are Metronet, Frontier Communications and TDS Telecom.
Does i3 Broadband have an API?
No public API is recorded for i3 Broadband.
What industry is i3 Broadband in?
i3 Broadband's product category is Fiber Internet Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIABAC, Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers, with a secondary code of HDAIACAB, Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Operators. Its NAICS code is 517111 and its SIC code is 4813.