Tracked deals
22
22 tracked deals across 2018-2026.
Telecommunications Buyers & Acquisitions in Illinois
Buyer mix
Mixed buyer set
14 strategic · 12 pe
Top trend
Volume peaked in 2024
6 tracked deals announced in 2024.
Buyer Snapshot
Top Buyers
Illustrative buyers pulled from tracked transactions on this page. This table is capped and intentionally non-exhaustive.
| Buyer | # Deals | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Communications America, Inc. | 3 | National provider of integrated communication, connectivi... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| M/C Partners | 2 | Communications- and technology-focused private equity fir... | PE |
| Author Capital Partners | 1 | Private equity firm that provides flexible capital and st... | PE |
| Balmoral Funds LLC | 1 | Los Angeles-based private equity firm investing in mid-ma... | PE |
| Berkshire Partners | 1 | Middle‑market private equity firm providing growth capita... | PE |
| British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) (affiliates) | 1 | Canadian public-sector investment manager investing acros... | Mixed |
| Cable ONE, Inc. | 1 | Broadband communications and cable provider serving resid... | Strategic |
| Cinven | 1 | International private equity firm focused on sector-led i... | PE |
| Congruex | 1 | National end-to-end provider of design, engineering, cons... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Crestview Partners | 1 | Value-oriented private equity firm focused on middle-mark... | PE |
Acquisition Volume in Telecommunications in Illinois by Year
Last 8 years
Actual
Full-year estimate
Supporting Data
Recent Transactions
-
January 2, 2026
- Buyer
- Metro Communications
- Target
- MTCO Communications
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Metro Communications acquired MTCO Communications, a long-established telecommunications provider serving central Illinois markets. The closed transaction expands Metro’s footprint across central Illinois and strengthens its retail Conxxus brand. The acquisition closed on January 2, 2026.
-
September 16, 2025
- Buyer
- Mobile Communications America, Inc.
- Target
- Beck Tech
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Mobile Communications America (MCA) has acquired Beck Tech (formerly BARBECK Communications), a Motorola channel partner based in Decatur, Illinois. The acquisition expands MCA's Midwest footprint and adds Beck Tech's expertise in two-way radio systems, SIP/ESI business phone systems, and security/video solutions to MCA's nationwide integrated communications and security platform.
-
August 1, 2025
- Buyer
- T-Mobile US, Inc.
- Target
- UScellular (wireless operations)
- Seller
- Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (formerly United States Cellular Corporation / UScellular), Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), Farmers Cellular Telephone Company, Inc., Iowa RSA No. 9 Limited Partnership, Iowa RSA No. 12 Limited Partnership
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
T-Mobile US, Inc. has completed the acquisition of substantially all of UScellular's wireless operations and specified spectrum assets for approximately $4.3 billion after adjustments, consisting of $2.6 billion in cash and about $1.7 billion in assumed debt. The deal (closed August 1, 2025) adds roughly 4.4 million customers, ~4,400 towers and valuable low-band spectrum to T‑Mobile’s network while Array Digital Infrastructure (formerly UScellular) will retain a large tower portfolio and certain spectrum holdings.
-
- Buyer
- Mobile Communications America, Inc.
- Target
- Wireless Concepts International, LLC
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Mobile Communications America (MCA) has acquired Wireless Concepts International, a Schaumburg, Illinois-based wireless engineering services provider. The deal expands MCA’s in‑building wireless and public‑safety communications capabilities across the Midwest and brings additional engineering resources to shorten deployments and improve operational efficiency for customers.
-
- Buyer
- Mobile Communications America, Inc.
- Target
- Supreme Radio Communications, Inc.
- Seller
- Supreme Radio Communications, Inc., Shari Tripp (owner / president)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Mobile Communications America, Inc. (MCA) has acquired Supreme Radio Communications, Inc., a long-standing Motorola authorized service station headquartered in Peoria Heights, Illinois. The deal expands MCA's Midwest footprint and adds Supreme Radio's public safety and commercial two-way radio sales, service, and installation capabilities to MCA's national network.
-
November 20, 2024
- Buyer
- Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (affiliates), British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) (affiliates)
- Target
- Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Consolidated Communications Holdings is set to be acquired in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $3.1 billion by affiliates of Searchlight Capital Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI). The deal is expected to close in late 2024 or early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
-
September 30, 2024
- Buyer
- Balmoral Funds LLC
- Target
- Xirgo Technologies
- Seller
- Sensata Technologies
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
An affiliate of Balmoral Funds LLC acquired Sensata Technologies' Insights business unit and rebranded it as Xirgo Technologies, establishing the unit as an independent IoT and telematics company. Balmoral will invest in R&D and market expansion while appointing IoT veteran Chris Wolfe as CEO to drive growth in IoT and AI video markets; Xirgo supports over 900 channel partners and deploys more than 1.6 million devices per year.
-
September 16, 2024
- Buyer
- Mobile Communications America, Inc. (MCA)
- Target
- Illinois Cooperative Association, Inc. (d/b/a Clear Talk)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Mobile Communications America, Inc. (MCA) has acquired Illinois Cooperative Association, Inc., which does business as Clear Talk, a Motorola-authorized two-way radio dealer headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. The acquisition expands MCA’s Midwest footprint and adds Clear Talk’s Motorola credentials, service capabilities and local customer base to MCA’s national network.
-
September 15, 2024
- Buyer
- M/C Partners, Author Capital Partners
- Target
- Everywhere Wireless, SilverIP Communications
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
M/C Partners, with participation from Author Capital Partners, led an investment to combine Chicago-based ISPs Everywhere Wireless and SilverIP under the new Zentro brand. The merged company becomes the largest MDU-focused ISP in the Midwest, serving more than 65,000 residential and business subscribers across Chicago and Milwaukee and positioning the business for further geographic expansion and roll-up activity.
-
July 23, 2024
- Buyer
- OwnersEdge Inc.
- Target
- Communications Direct (CommDirect)
- Seller
- Tim Van Hiel, Bill Chmelik
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
OwnersEdge Inc., a 100% employee‑owned ESOP holding company based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has acquired Communications Direct (CommDirect), a St. Charles, Illinois‑based mission‑critical communications and rental business. The 26‑employee firm — a Motorola Solutions channel partner with rental offices in key event markets — becomes part of OwnersEdge's portfolio as the company's first acquisition in Illinois, expanding OwnersEdge's geographic footprint and rental capabilities.
-
- Buyer
- Stratus Networks, Novacap
- Target
- Illinois Fiber Resources Group (iFiber)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Stratus Networks, a Midwest business communications provider backed by private equity firm Novacap, has acquired Illinois Fiber Resources Group (iFiber) to expand its fiber network footprint across northwest Illinois. The deal strengthens Stratus's fiber-based data, voice and cloud services for local businesses and communities and is supported by Novacap as part of its digital infrastructure investment strategy.
-
March 28, 2023
- Buyer
- Macquarie Asset Management (a fund managed by MAM)
- Target
- Pavlov Media Inc.
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
A fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management has made a preferred equity investment in Pavlov Media Inc., a U.S.-based provider of fiber-based internet connectivity to off-campus student housing and other MDUs. The investment will fund continued fiber network construction, expansion into new markets, and acceleration of Pavlov's fiber-to-the-home initiatives.
-
October 5, 2022
- Buyer
- i3 Broadband
- Target
- VoiceSpring, Inc.
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
i3 Broadband (Peoria, Illinois) completed an asset purchase and operational merger with VoiceSpring, Inc., a cloud-based VoIP provider headquartered in Illinois. The acquisition adds hosted phone systems and SIP trunking capabilities to i3's commercial product lineup; VoiceSpring operations and employees will remain in place and the transaction closed on October 3.
-
July 27, 2022
- Buyer
- Infobip
- Target
- Peerless Network
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Infobip, the global cloud communications (CPaaS) platform headquartered in Croatia, has completed the acquisition of U.S.-based VoIP provider Peerless Network for around $200 million. The deal expands Infobip’s U.S. footprint and voice capabilities, combining Peerless’s nationwide voice network with Infobip’s global messaging and CPaaS offerings to create an end-to-end omnichannel communications solution.
-
April 18, 2022
- Buyer
- Digital Alpha Advisors
- Target
- Unitas Global Connectivity Business
- Seller
- Unitas Global
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Digital Alpha Advisors acquired the Connectivity Business assets of Unitas Global and will operate the business under the Unitas Global name, integrating its Unitas Nexus platform and Unitas Reach network into Digital Alpha's digital infrastructure portfolio. The asset purchase makes Digital Alpha the controlling stakeholder in the connectivity business and aims to expand its next-generation networking capabilities for enterprise, MSP and cloud customers.
-
November 18, 2021
- Buyer
- Cinven
- Target
- Nitel
- Seller
- Rick Stern, Ron Grason
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Cinven has agreed to make a significant majority investment in Nitel, a Chicago-based provider of managed internet connectivity, SD-WAN and managed cybersecurity services for multi-site SMEs. Financial terms were not disclosed; the deal is an acquisition from the founders and Cinven intends to support Nitel’s organic growth and buy-and-build strategy to expand into adjacent services.
-
October 18, 2021
- Buyer
- Congruex, Crestview Partners
- Target
- Matrix Engineering
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Congruex, a national provider of broadband design, engineering, construction, and maintenance services backed by Crestview Partners, has acquired Matrix Engineering, a Schaumburg, Illinois-based fiber engineering and splicing specialist. The acquisition augments Congruex's turnkey design-build platform with additional fiber splicing and outside plant engineering capabilities as an add-on to its existing platform.
-
September 29, 2021
- Buyer
- UPSTACK, Berkshire Partners
- Target
- Legacy Solutions
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
UPSTACK, a New York–based cloud and internet infrastructure platform backed by Berkshire Partners, has acquired Legacy Solutions, a Chicago-based telecommunications consulting firm specializing in telecom expense audits and vendor management. Legacy Solutions' co-founders Michael Sanders and Lauren Sanders will join UPSTACK as partners and equity stakeholders to help expand the platform’s advisory capabilities and support customer succession plans.
-
- Buyer
- M/C Partners
- Target
- Everywhere Wireless
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Boston-based private equity firm M/C Partners has made a growth capital investment in Everywhere Wireless, a Chicago-based fixed wireless ISP serving multi-family buildings and commercial clients. The capital will be used to accelerate regional expansion, expand product offerings, hire staff, invest in network capacity, and support potential acquisitions.
-
- Buyer
- Rural Telecommunications of America, Inc. (RTA)
- Target
- The Fusion Network
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Rural Telecommunications of America, Inc. (RTA) has acquired The Fusion Network, a Sandwich, Illinois–headquartered wholesale fiber network that provides backhaul internet services to rural Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs). The deal expands RTA's nationwide gigFAST network, adding fiber capacity and personnel to support expanded rural broadband services and improved network reliability.
-
September 14, 2020
- Buyer
- Wren House Infrastructure Management Limited
- Target
- i3 Broadband
- Seller
- Seaport Capital, Countrywide Broadband
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Wren House Infrastructure Management Limited has agreed to acquire i3 Broadband from Seaport Capital and Countrywide Broadband. The investment will support i3's continued buildout of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and expansion into new communities across Illinois and surrounding states.
-
November 12, 2018
- Buyer
- Cable ONE, Inc.
- Target
- Clearwave Communications
- Seller
- Funds affiliated with Stephens Capital Partners LLC
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Cable ONE (NYSE: CABO) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Clearwave Communications, a facilities-based fiber network operator headquartered in Harrisburg, Illinois. The acquisition gives Cable ONE a dense regional fiber footprint and expands its business/enterprise services capabilities within its existing markets; Clearwave was majority-owned by funds affiliated with Stephens Capital Partners LLC.
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