What avx networks does

AVX Networks is a California-licensed telecommunications utility (CPUC Certificate U-7406-C) developing open-access submarine fiber infrastructure to connect Catalina Island to Huntington Beach. The project comprises two redundant submarine fiber cables, properly buried below the seafloor with geographic diversity, designed to deliver symmetric broadband speeds from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps to a community that has been 100% unserved by reliable broadband since the incumbent telephone company withdrew. Target service launch is 2028, supported by a $37.5 million competitive federal grant approved unanimously by the CPUC on December 18, 2025 from the Federal Funding Account.

The company's technology foundation is the physical submarine cable plant, with the redundancy and burial method explicitly designed to avoid the failure mode of the 1923 San Pedro–Catalina cable that was repeatedly dragged up by anchors. AVX does not sell directly to end users; instead it operates as a wholesale open-access platform, enabling any ISP to use its fiber backbone to compete for Catalina's roughly 4,400 year-round residents, the Catalina Island Health Critical Access Hospital, the City of Avalon government, local schools, and the tourism economy serving over one million annual visitors. Published retail pricing tiers — $40 (100 Mbps), $120 (1 Gbps), and $240 (10 Gbps) per month — carry no data caps, throttling, or overage charges.

AVX is privately held, headquartered in California, operates with 1–10 employees, and describes itself explicitly as a "passion project" that loses money in the near term, which is the stated reason no incumbent has previously addressed the market. Beyond the federal grant, the company is coordinating environmental review across the California Coastal Commission, BOEM, and the US Army Corps of Engineers, and has assembled bipartisan support spanning LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, state legislators, and the mayors of both Huntington Beach and Avalon.

Name

avx networks

Legal name

AVX Networks LLC

Website

https://avxnetworks.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AVX Networks is a California telecommunications utility building open-access submarine fiber infrastructure to connect Catalina Island to Huntington Beach, targeting a 2028 service launch and funded by a $37.5M federal grant to serve 4,400 residents, a critical access hospital, and tourism businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Submarine Fiber Telecommunications Infrastructure

akta.pro primary industry

Subsea Cable System Owners & Consortia (Wet Plant Investment) (HDAIALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)

Keywords

• Submarine fiber infrastructure
• Open-access networks
• Telecommunications utility
• Fiber optic backbone
• Wholesale broadband capacity

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Telecommunications Utility Services: AVX Networks operates as a CPUC-certified telecommunications utility (Certificate U-7406-C) providing fiber infrastructure services. They generate revenue by providing open-access fiber backbone infrastructure that ISPs use to serve end customers on Catalina Island. The company notes this is 'not a cash cow—it loses money' in the near term, with the incumbent telephone company having abandoned the island decades ago due to unprofitability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

AVX Networks is a California-licensed telecommunications utility (CPUC Certificate U-7406-C) that builds and operates open-access submarine fiber-optic infrastructure connecting Catalina Island to Huntington Beach. The company won a $37.5 million federal grant to deploy this high-capacity backbone and will sell wholesale network capacity to multiple ISPs under an open-access model.

Product overview

AVX Networks is a California telecommunications utility (CPUC Certificate U-7406-C) providing fiber-to-the-premises broadband infrastructure services for Catalina Island. The company operates three service tiers—AVX Fiber-Base (100 Mbps symmetric at $40/month), AVX Fiber-Gig (1 Gbps symmetric at $120/month), and AVX Fiber-10G (10 Gbps symmetric at $240/month)—all with no data caps or hardware surcharges. Built on redundant submarine fiber cables connecting Catalina to Huntington Beach, the open-access infrastructure allows any ISP to compete for business, enabling more choices and better connectivity for residents rather than consolidation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open-Access Submarine Fiber Backbone (Catalina–Huntington Beach)
• Wholesale Open-Access Fiber Capacity

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% coverage for previously unserved island
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• City of Huntington BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMainland landing site for redundant submarine fiber cables. Offers direct route with favorable seafloor conditions, strong municipal support from Mayor McKeon and city council, and excellent connectivity to regional fiber networks.
• City of AvaloncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government of Catalina Island. Mayor Ann Marshall and City Council support the project. Councilmember Lisa Lavelle serves as Project Lead. City Manager and Administration are involved in coordination.
• California Coastal CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental review coordination with California Coastal Commission as part of the multi-agency permitting process for submarine cable installation.
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental review coordination with BOEM as part of the multi-agency permitting process for submarine cable installation.
• US Army Corps of EngineersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental review coordination with Army Corps of Engineers as part of the multi-agency permitting process for submarine cable installation.
• Catalina Island HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCritical Access Hospital serving Catalina Island. Key advocate for the project due to need for reliable telemedicine, electronic health records, medical imaging transfers, and emergency coordination. When someone has a heart attack or stroke, milliseconds matter.
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAVX is building open-access infrastructure that any ISP can use to compete for island residents' business. Rather than replacing existing providers, this enables them and new entrants to offer better service. ISPs will be the retail providers using the AVX fiber backbone.
• LA County Supervisor Janice HahnmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA County Board of Supervisors, District 4. One of the federal, state, and local leaders who united in support of the project.
• Senator Tony StricklandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State Senate. One of the federal, state, and local leaders who united in support of the project.
• Assemblymember Josh LowenthalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State Assembly, District 68. One of the federal, state, and local leaders who united in support of the project.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ting Internet: Ting Internet is a fiber-to-the-home ISP offering gigabit symmetric service in select US towns, founded as a utility-style challenger to incumbents. Comparable to AVX in FTTH pricing tier design (no caps, symmetric speeds, transparent pricing) and challenger positioning against incumbent providers.
• Crosslake Fibre: Crosslake Fibre develops and operates submarine and terrestrial fiber networks, including the Crosslake Cable between Toronto and Buffalo and projects across the Pacific Northwest. Comparable to AVX as a smaller independent specialist building niche submarine routes.
• Ziply Fiber: Ziply Fiber is a fiber ISP serving the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana) including many previously underserved rural communities. Comparable to AVX in mission to bring gigabit fiber to markets ignored by large incumbents, often using federal broadband grants.
• Hawaiki Submarine Cable: Hawaiki operates a 15,000-km submarine cable connecting Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the US West Coast. Comparable to AVX as an independent submarine cable consortia owner serving islands with limited terrestrial alternatives.
• Hawaiian Telcom: Hawaiian Telcom is the incumbent integrated telecom serving the Hawaiian islands with fiber, wireless, and business services. Comparable to AVX as the historical analog—a small-population island telecom utility that has had to build submarine infrastructure to serve remote island markets.
• Aqua Comms: Aqua Comms owns and operates submarine fiber cable systems (AEConnect, America Europe Connect-2, Havfrue/AEC-2) connecting North America to Europe. Directly comparable to AVX as an independent submarine cable owner-operator monetizing lit fiber capacity and backhaul to carriers.

Broad incumbents

• Frontier Communications: Frontier is a large US wireline ILEC deploying fiber-to-the-home in underserved and exurban markets, often with federal CAF/FFA subsidy support. Comparable to AVX as an incumbent telecom pursuing grant-funded fiber builds in markets deemed uneconomic by larger players.
• Google Fiber: Google Fiber operates FTTH gigabit and multi-gigabit service in selected US metro areas and explored open-access municipal models. Comparable to AVX in symmetric gigabit pricing strategy and open-access ethos, though at vastly greater scale and capital depth.
• Zayo Group: Zayo owns and operates one of the largest independent fiber networks in North America and Europe, including subsea cables. Comparable to AVX as an infrastructure-focused fiber operator with subsea assets serving carriers and enterprises on lit-fiber commercial terms.
• Crown Castle: Crown Castle owns shared communications infrastructure including fiber and small cells across the US, with a focus on wholesale open-access models. Comparable to AVX in operating a neutral-host, multi-tenant network where multiple ISPs/customers ride a single physical fiber layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avx-networks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about avx networks