Tracked deals
20
20 tracked deals across 2016-2026.
Telecommunications Buyers & Acquisitions in North Carolina
Buyer mix
Mixed buyer set
14 strategic · 12 pe
Top trend
Volume peaked in 2021
5 tracked deals announced in 2021.
Primary Insight
What Stands Out
- Fiber expansion: Deals involving Ripple Fiber, BridgeNET Fiber and Lumos highlight interest in extending fiber networks and broadband reach.
- Wireless infrastructure: Palistar Capital combined Symphony Wireless-managed assets with CTI Towers to form Symphony Towers Infrastructure; Novacap also partnered with Charlotte-based Communications Tower Group.
- Services and deployment capabilities: Acquisitions involving National OnDemand and Kane Infrastructure Services added last-mile installation and communications infrastructure services.
- Strategic and financial buyers: The transactions include telecom operators, infrastructure investors and private equity firms, reflecting varied approaches to expanding networks and capabilities.
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Top Buyers
Illustrative buyers pulled from tracked transactions on this page. This table is capped and intentionally non-exhaustive.
| Buyer | # Deals | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADVA Optical Networking SE | 1 | German optical and Ethernet infrastructure vendor providi... | Strategic |
| APG Group NV | 1 | Large Dutch pension asset manager and long‑term infrastru... | PE |
| Affiliate of Lone Star Funds | 1 | Private investment firm focused on acquisitions across di... | PE |
| Aterian Investment Partners | 1 | Middle-market private equity firm managing approximately ... | PE |
| Conterra senior management | 1 | Conterra's senior management team participating in the eq... | Investor |
| Cox Communications | 1 | Provider of residential and business broadband, cable and... | Strategic |
| DISH Network Corporation | 1 | Connectivity and media company providing satellite TV, st... | Strategic |
| EQT Infrastructure VI (EQT) | 1 | Global investment organization focused on private capital... | PE |
| Eaton Fiber | 1 | Tillman-established wholesale fiber infrastructure platfo... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| ElectriCom | 1 | Provider of aerial, underground, wireless and right-of-wa... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
Acquisition Volume in Telecommunications in North Carolina by Year
Last 8 years
Actual
Full-year estimate
Supporting Data
Recent Transactions
-
October 13, 2026
- Buyer
- Verizon
- Target
- Ripple Fiber
- Seller
- Ripple Fiber
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
In connection with the completed Ripple Fiber transaction, Verizon acquired the majority of Ripple Fiber’s existing customers and certain network assets in North Carolina and South Carolina. The customers are to transition to Verizon’s fiber broadband platform over time, with uninterrupted service during the transition.
-
July 29, 2026
- Buyer
- Eaton Fiber
- Target
- Ripple Fiber
- Seller
- Platform Investment Partners, KLT
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Eaton Fiber entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ripple Fiber, a fiber-optic internet provider and network operator headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The acquisition, funded by the announced $1.5 billion investment in Eaton Fiber, was completed on October 13, 2026.
-
- Buyer
- Ripple Fiber
- Target
- BridgeNET Fiber
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Ripple Fiber, a Charlotte-based fiber network operator, has acquired BridgeNET Fiber of Statesville, North Carolina, with the deal closing June 4, 2025. The transaction brings BridgeNET's team and assets into Ripple Fiber and supports a projected expansion to 18,000 passings in Statesville, accelerating local fiber deployment and expanding Ripple Fiber's North Carolina presence.
-
January 14, 2025
- Buyer
- Palistar Capital LP, Symphony Towers Infrastructure (formerly Symphony Wireless)
- Target
- CTI Towers, Inc., Wireless Tower Portfolio (pool of assets managed by Symphony Wireless and CTI)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Addon
Palistar Capital combined the pool of wireless assets managed by its affiliate Symphony Wireless with its portfolio company CTI Towers, creating a new combined platform named Symphony Towers Infrastructure to operate approximately 3,000 tower, rooftop and non-traditional cell sites across the U.S. The move consolidates management and operations to drive scale, create operational efficiencies and support continued organic and inorganic growth of the wireless tower portfolio.
-
December 11, 2024
- Buyer
- Ezee Fiber
- Target
- Conterra Networks (New Mexico fiber assets)
- Seller
- Conterra Networks
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Houston-based Ezee Fiber acquired Conterra Networks’ New Mexico fiber assets, adding 128 miles of installed fiber across Santa Fe, Rio Rancho and Los Lunas. Terms were not disclosed; Ezee Fiber said the deal will accelerate its FTTH deployment and broader New Mexico expansion as part of a multi-state growth plan.
-
July 31, 2024
- Buyer
- Novacap
- Target
- Communications Tower Group I LLC (CTG)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Novacap, a North American private equity firm, announced a partnership with Communications Tower Group I LLC (CTG), making CTG the third portfolio company within Novacap's Digital Infrastructure platform. CTG, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and founded in 2015, is a developer and operator of communications tower infrastructure focused on supporting wireless network deployments including 5G.
-
April 25, 2024
- Buyer
- T‑Mobile US, Inc., EQT Infrastructure VI (EQT)
- Target
- Lumos
- Seller
- EQT Infrastructure III
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
T‑Mobile and EQT formed a joint venture (backed by EQT Infrastructure VI) to acquire fiber‑to‑the‑home provider Lumos from EQT Infrastructure III. The JV will combine T‑Mobile's retail, brand and customer capabilities with EQT's infrastructure expertise to scale Lumos' fiber network and transition it to a wholesale model with T‑Mobile as the anchor tenant, with plans to reach ~3.5 million homes passed by 2028.
-
May 24, 2023
- Buyer
- M/C Partners
- Target
- celito
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
M/C Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, has made a significant growth investment in celito to support expansion of the company's fiber network and service offerings. The capital will accelerate celito’s growth in Raleigh and beyond while bringing in telecom veteran Danny Bottoms as CEO to scale the business.
-
- Buyer
- Kane Infrastructure Services Holdings, LLC, Aterian Investment Partners
- Target
- Premiere Communications & Consulting, LLC
- Seller
- Premiere Communications & Consulting founder-owners (including Jeff Woodlief)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Addon
Kane Infrastructure Services, an Aterian Investment Partners portfolio company, has acquired Premiere Communications & Consulting, a Raleigh-based communications infrastructure services provider, to expand Kane’s footprint in the Carolinas. The acquisition adds Premiere’s design, build and maintenance capabilities and offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston and Myrtle Beach to Kane’s nationwide platform.
-
July 22, 2021
- Buyer
- USTC Corp, Inc.
- Target
- Walker and Associates Inc.
- Seller
- Founding Walker family
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Addon
USTC Corp, a Carlyle-backed value-added distributor of telecommunications materials, has acquired Walker and Associates Inc. from the founding Walker family. The add-on expands USTC's U.S. footprint and customer base—bringing additional locations, supplier relationships and telecom distribution and supply-chain capabilities to support broadband, 5G and enterprise network deployments.
-
July 13, 2021
- Buyer
- National OnDemand, Inc.
- Target
- A+ Communications
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
National OnDemand, Inc., a Burlington, North Carolina-based communications and utilities infrastructure provider, has completed the acquisition of A+ Communications, a last‑mile telecommunications installation services provider founded in 2001. The A+ management team will remain in place while National OnDemand provides corporate support as it expands its national footprint and last‑mile capabilities.
-
- Buyer
- Grain Management, LLC
- Target
- Network Wireless Solutions, LLC
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Grain Management, a private investment firm focused on broadband and communications, has acquired Network Wireless Solutions (NWS), a Durham, North Carolina-based provider of custom hybrid and fiber-optic cables and cell-site services. The partnership will leverage Grain’s sector expertise and relationships to scale NWS’s product and services offerings to support continued expansion of telecommunications networks.
-
April 27, 2021
- Buyer
- Cox Communications
- Target
- Segra (Commercial Services Business)
- Seller
- EQT Infrastructure (EQT Infrastructure III fund)
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Cox Communications has acquired the commercial services business of Segra from EQT Infrastructure (EQT Infrastructure III fund), a divestiture that expands Cox's fiber footprint and enterprise/carrier offerings across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. EQT will retain Segra's residential and SMB operations (Lumos Networks and NorthState) and plans to accelerate FTTP buildout; Segra's commercial unit will operate as a stand-alone business within Cox with existing management retained.
-
March 8, 2021
- Buyer
- DISH Network Corporation
- Target
- Republic Wireless
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
DISH Network announced on March 8, 2021 that it will acquire Republic Wireless, an MVNO operating on the T‑Mobile network, including approximately 200,000 customer relationships and the Republic brand. The Relay division of Republic will remain a standalone business in Raleigh and become a wholesale customer on DISH’s 5G network.
-
September 1, 2020
- Buyer
- Melody Investment Advisors LP
- Target
- CTI Towers, Inc.
- Seller
- Comcast Ventures
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Melody Investment Advisors LP entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CTI Towers, Inc., a Cary, North Carolina–based owner and manager of approximately 1,150 wireless towers across 47 U.S. states. CTI Towers was majority owned by Comcast Ventures; terms were not disclosed and the CTI management team will remain in place as Melody expands its communications infrastructure portfolio.
-
June 30, 2020
- Buyer
- APG Group NV (affiliates), Fiera Infrastructure Inc. (affiliates), Conterra senior management (significant participation)
- Target
- Conterra Networks
- Seller
- Court Square Capital Partners (affiliates), Certain other indirect equity holders
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Affiliates of APG Group NV and Fiera Infrastructure, with significant participation from Conterra senior management, agreed to acquire the remaining indirect equity interests in Conterra Networks from affiliates of Court Square Capital Partners and other holders. The transaction positions Conterra as a platform to accelerate US fiber network expansion through organic builds and acquisitions, targeting growth in Tier II and Tier III markets.
-
June 2, 2020
- Buyer
- ElectriCom, KLH Capital
- Target
- DataWatt Solutions
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Addon
ElectriCom has acquired DataWatt Solutions, a Linwood, North Carolina-based fiber optics installation, maintenance and emergency restoration services provider. The deal, supported by ElectriCom's partner KLH Capital and financed by First Financial Bank, expands ElectriCom's presence and capabilities across the Carolinas.
-
March 7, 2019
- Buyer
- Tower Engineering Professionals, Prairie Capital V, LP
- Target
- Utilis Engineering
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Addon
Tower Engineering Professionals (TEP), backed by Prairie Capital V, acquired Utilis Engineering to expand TEP’s capabilities into fiber-optic and small-cell engineering, strengthening its telecom engineering, maintenance, inspection and site-acquisition services. The deal is an add-on to TEP’s national platform and is intended to accelerate service-line expansion, broaden channel reach, and create cross-selling opportunities between the businesses.
-
January 19, 2016
- Buyer
- Affiliate of Lone Star Funds
- Target
- A Wireless (formerly Z Wireless)
- Seller
- Atlantic Street Capital
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
An affiliate of Lone Star Funds has acquired A Wireless (formerly Z Wireless), a Greenville, North Carolina–based wireless retailer with more than 600 stores across 31 states, from Atlantic Street Capital. Atlantic Street Capital said the sale represented a successful exit for its investment; William Blair served as exclusive financial advisor and Morrison Cohen served as legal advisor to A Wireless.
-
January 13, 2016
- Buyer
- ADVA Optical Networking SE
- Target
- Overture Networks, Inc.
- Seller
- Morgenthaler Ventures, Questmark Partners, Globespan Capital Partners
- Industry
- Telecommunications
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Type
- Buyout
ADVA Optical Networking SE acquired Morrisville, North Carolina-based Overture Networks for an initial $35 million (with up to $5 million in conditional earn-out) to strengthen its NFV and Ethernet access capabilities. The deal combines ADVA's optical and access hardware with Overture's Ensemble NFV software and orchestration tools, expands ADVA's footprint in North America and adds roughly 178 employees.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What types of telecommunications companies are being acquired in North Carolina?
The listed deals include fiber network operators, wireless tower and communications infrastructure businesses, and providers of installation, maintenance and distribution services.
Are fiber networks a focus of North Carolina telecommunications acquisitions?
Yes. Several listed transactions concern fiber providers or assets, including Ripple Fiber, BridgeNET Fiber and Lumos.
Which firms appear in North Carolina telecommunications deals?
Named buyers include Verizon, Eaton Fiber, Palistar Capital, National OnDemand and Novacap, among others.
What happened in the Ripple Fiber transactions?
Eaton Fiber agreed to acquire Ripple Fiber in 2026. In a separate transaction connected with the completed deal, Verizon acquired most of Ripple Fiber’s existing customers and certain network assets in North Carolina and South Carolina.
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