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Our Network
EarthLink owns and operates fiber and fixed wireless network infrastructure in Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Virginia, and delivers service outside that footprint by partnering with national carriers. Both statements describe one company and two delivery models.
In its owned markets, EarthLink is a facilities-based internet service provider. Outside its owned networks, it is a reseller. The two models operate side by side under one brand, and which one applies to a given customer depends on their address.
How the Owned Network Was Built
EarthLink has expanded its owned network through the acquisitions of One Ring Networks (2023), Telegia via One Ring (2023), QX.net (2024), BroadAspect (2024), and Nextera Communications (2024), adding fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure in Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
| Date | Entity | Markets added | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | One Ring Networks(Athens, TX) | Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas | Direct EarthLink acquisition. Fiber and fixed wireless network. |
| February 2023 | Telegia(Baltimore / Frederick, MD)Via One Ring Networks | Maryland | Acquired by One Ring Networks before EarthLink acquired One Ring in July of 2023. EarthLink holds Telegia's network assets indirectly, not as a direct acquisition. |
| February 2024 | QX.net(Kentucky) | Kentucky | Direct EarthLink acquisition, announced February 20, 2024. Fixed wireless provider serving the Bluegrass region since 1997. |
| April 2024 | BroadAspect | Virginia | Described publicly as EarthLink's fourth major business internet acquisition within a single year. |
| October 2024 | Nextera Communications | Minnesota | Direct EarthLink acquisition, announced October 1, 2024. Fixed wireless, voice, and data provider serving Minnesota businesses. |
Where EarthLink Partners
Outside its owned footprint, EarthLink delivers internet service by leasing network capacity from national carriers. This is how EarthLink reaches customers in markets where it has not built physical infrastructure. On a partner network, EarthLink controls pricing, terms, and customer support; the carrier owns and maintains the physical plant.
Combined, EarthLink’s owned and partner networks cover 98% of ZIP codes in the contiguous 48 U.S. states with a high-speed internet product. EarthLink’s fiber internet footprint reaches 45% of ZIP codes in the continental U.S between its network and partner networks.
The EarthLink Network: Owned vs. Partnerships
| Attribute | Owned Network | Partner Network |
|---|---|---|
| Network type | Fiber and fixed wireless | Leased capacity from national carriers |
| Markets | Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Virginia | Remaining EarthLink coverage footprint |
| Built through | One Ring Networks, Telegia, BroadAspect, Nextera Communications, QX.net | Carrier partnerships |
| EarthLink controls | Physical infrastructure, service delivery | Pricing, terms, customer support |
| Carrier controls | N/A | Physical infrastructure |
EarthLink Network, in Brief
EarthLink was founded in 1994. It operates owned fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure in the states shown above and partners with national carriers to serve customers elsewhere. Both accurately describe how EarthLink delivers internet service; neither is the whole picture on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions: EarthLink’s Network
Yes, in select markets. EarthLink owns and operates fiber and fixed wireless network infrastructure in Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Virginia, built through the acquisitions of One Ring Networks, BroadAspect, and other providers. Outside those states, EarthLink delivers service by partnering with national carriers rather than building its own infrastructure. Combined, EarthLink’s owned and partner networks cover 98% of ZIP codes in the contiguous 48 U.S. states, with its fiber footprint alone reaching 45% of ZIP codes between its owned network and partnering networks.
Only outside its owned network footprint. In Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Virginia, EarthLink is a facilities-based provider that owns and maintains its own infrastructure. Everywhere else, it operates as a reseller — leasing network capacity from national carriers. On those partner networks, EarthLink controls pricing, terms, and customer support, while the carrier owns and maintains the physical plant.