Telecommunications Acquisitions in Illinois

Platinum Equity has completed its acquisition of Anuvu, a provider of in-flight entertainment and high-speed connectivity solutions for aviation, maritime and other mobility markets. The buyout will support Anuvu's growth and investment in next-generation satellite technologies, expanded content distribution and enhanced data-driven passenger management; financial terms were not disclosed.

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.

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.

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.

Comcast Business has completed its acquisition of Nitel, a Chicago-based managed network and security services provider, from private equity firm Cinven. The deal expands Comcast Business' connectivity, secure networking and managed services capabilities and strengthens its ability to serve enterprise clients across industries such as financial services, healthcare and education.

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.

Affiliates of private equity firm Searchlight Capital Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) will acquire Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valuing the company at approximately $3.1 billion including assumed debt. The deal, which was approved by the Vermont Public Utility Commission and previously by Consolidated shareholders, will take the Mattoon, Illinois–based fiber and landline provider private to provide greater flexibility to execute its fiber expansion strategy, subject to remaining federal approvals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.