A Jacksonville-based high-speed internet provider plans to establish a local underground network and open an office in St. Petersburg this year.
IQ Fiber believes it can help customers throughout Pinellas County avoid internet outages during storms. The company will initially spend about $50 million to launch its 10-gigabyte-capable network in the area and create 35 new jobs.
Construction will begin this month, and new customers should be able to join by late 2025. Kim Smithers, co-founder and chief marketing officer at IQ Fiber, said the local market is ideal for the rapidly expanding company…