The ribbon cutting at the Local Arts and Crafts Festival in October 2023 celebrated the launch of Lumos’ service in Crozet. We installed 60 miles of fiber to provide fast, reliable internet access to nearly 3,000 Crozet households.
Fiber Internet for Rural Areas
Closing the digital divide in communities of all sizes.
Find out if Lumos Fiber Internet is available for your home.
We’re laying miles of fiber across rural regions.
Lumos is bringing our 100% Fiber Optic Internet2 to small towns and rural areas to help you stream, work and connect faster and more seamlessly in even the most remote areas. No matter where you are, you’ll have access to 24/7 local, friendly support so you’re always connected.
Making a difference in unserved and underserved communities.
Many rural homes lack reliable access to high-speed internet compared to those in cities, but Lumos is bridging that digital divide. Our lightning-fast fiber network paves the way for more equitable opportunities in education, healthcare and entrepreneurship in unserved and underserved communities.
Federal and state governments use these two categories to determine where broadband programs are needed most. “Unserved” locations lack access to any broadband service or have internet service offering speeds below 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. “Underserved” communities are without broadband service offering speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
Lumos fiber connected homes.
We believe everyone deserves fast internet, no matter what size community they’re from. That’s why our goal is to reach 1,000,000 connected homes. To meet this, we’re focusing on rapid deployment in rural neighborhoods to make high-speed fiber internet access a reality for small-town residents.
Lumos Fiber Internet makes a big impact on small towns.
We’re turning country roads into high-speed data highways. Our partnerships with local agencies and leadership help expedite fiber expansion in unserved and underserved communities by making it more accessible and affordable. See how we’re making a real-world impact in small rural towns.
- Crozet, VA
- Mebane, NC
- Orange County, NC
Crozet, VA
Population: 7,191
Nearly 3,000
Homes added
Mebane, NC
Population: 18,408
Our launch in Mebane provides coverage for nearly 100% of homes within the city limits. This is part of our larger infrastructure plan that will pass nearly 70,000 homes across Alamance and Orange County. Lumos also honored student entrepreneur Elizabeth LaFave with a $1,500 grant for her company, Invenire, to digitize core exhibits in rural museums and libraries, including the Mebane Historical Museum, to reach more North Carolinians and future generations.
Nearly 70,000
Homes added
Orange County, NC
Population: 148,884
In August 2023, Lumos launched its 100% Fiber Optic Internet in Orange County, as one of the largest public-private partnerships for fiber infrastructure in North Carolina’s history. We are reaching more than 6,300 unserved homes in the county and are building to an additional 22,000. Approximately two dozen county-owned anchor institutions, including fire stations, EMS and community centers, will also receive fiber access.
Nearly 28,000
Homes added
Why choose Lumos for your rural fiber internet needs?
Fiber speeds past cable.
Rural internet is known for being slow and unreliable. That’s because cable can’t keep up. See how fiber unlocks small-town connectivity.
Fast-track your career from home.
Fiber internet turns your home workspace into a virtual powerhouse. No more pixelated video calls or agonizingly slow file uploads.
Leave no learner offline.
Don’t let a poor internet connection hinder your student from learning remotely. Fiber closes the digital divide with lightning-fast internet.
Game with a speed boost.
Claim victories lag-free. Fiber gives you the ultimate power-up with seamless and responsive gameplay.
Stream what you want, when you want.
Stream your favorite programs over fast, fiber internet with our customized TV packages. Watch on multiple devices in any room at any time.
Feel your best with telehealth.
Bring the best doctors right to your screen, glitch-free. With reliable fiber internet, you can get access to better, more equitable healthcare and never miss another check-up.
Empower your rural home with the right speed.
Plan Finder Tool
How many people in your household are using the internet?
What are they using it for?
Select all that apply:
These require a typical amount of speed on a fiber network. We’ll call them “average-use.”
These require more from your internet. We’ll call them “high-demand.”
Recommended Plan:
Speeds up to
500 Mbps
upload & download speed2
Best for families with average internet usage or individuals with a high-demand internet lifestyle.
- Download a 2hr movie in just 1.3 minutes
- FREE Installation3
2Available in select locations.
Exclusive offer ends soon!
- FREE Installation3
View pricing and offers in your area
Limited time offer!
Speeds up to
1 Gig
upload & download speed2
Best for large families or multiple users with high-demand internet lifestyles.
- Download a 2hr movie in just 37.9 seconds
- FREE Installation3
2Available in select locations.
Act Now!
See how you can get a $300 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Limited time offer!
Speeds up to
2 Gig
upload & download speed2
Best for very large families with multiple users who have high-demand internet lifestyles.
- Download a 2hr movie in just 18.9 seconds
- FREE Installation3
2Available in select locations.
Act Now!
See how you can get a $400 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Limited time offer!
Speeds up to
5 Gig
upload & download speed2
Best for exceptionally high-demand circumstances.
- Download a 2hr movie in just 7.6 seconds
2Available in select locations.
Act Now!
See how you can get a $400 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Limited time offer!
Speeds up to
8 Gig
upload & download speed2
Best for exceptionally high-demand circumstances.
- Download a 2hr movie in just 7.6 seconds
2Available in select locations.
Act Now!
See how you can get a $400 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Best for families with average internet usage or individuals with a high-demand internet lifestyle.
‡Available in select locations.
2Available in select locations.Exclusive offer ends soon!
- FREE Installation3
View pricing and offers in your area
Best for large families or multiple users with high-demand internet lifestyles.
‡Available in select locations.
2Available in select locations.Act Now!
See how you can get a $300 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Best for very large families with multiple users who have high-demand internet lifestyles.
‡Available in select locations.
2Available in select locations.Act Now!
See how you can get a $400 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Best for exceptionally high-demand circumstances.
‡Available in select locations.
2Available in select locations.Act Now!
See how you can get a $400 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Best for exceptionally high-demand circumstances.
‡Available in select locations.
2Available in select locations.Act Now!
See how you can get a $400 Lumos Prepaid Mastercard® when you switch.1
View pricing and offers in your area
Your rural internet questions, answered.
Why is rural internet so slow?
Rural broadband tends to be much slower than in urban locations for a few reasons. These connections usually rely on copper phone lines, which are the oldest and slowest type of broadband connection. Second, fiber internet isn’t often available in underserved and unserved areas because the lack of infrastructure and challenging geographical terrain like woods or mountains make it difficult and expensive to deploy. Lastly, rural households are typically further away from the main service line, so data must cover a greater distance to reach the home. With Lumos Fiber Internet, slowdowns are a thing of the past. Your connection is always fast in every direction, thanks to symmetrical upload and download speeds.
How does fiber increase internet speed in rural areas?
Unlike traditional cable internet often found in small towns, fiber optic cables send data as beams of light, faster than electrical cable signals. This makes for a more secure and reliable internet connection, especially over longer distances. Unserved and underserved homes far from the central internet hub can now enjoy lightning-fast internet, just like in the city. No more waiting for lectures to load or sitting through spotty telehealth appointments—everything’s quick and smooth. Learn more about how fiber outpaces cable and can improve rural living with high-speed connections.
How do I get faster internet in rural areas?
Access to high-speed internet is more important than ever for small-town residents and businesses. Fiber internet gives small-town living a speed boost, whether you’re a student learning online, a creative working from home or a patient seeking telehealth services. Read our blog to learn how to get fast, reliable fiber internet from Lumos.
What are the internet options for rural areas?
DSL, dial-up, mobile hotspots and satellite are often the only alternatives for many underserved and unserved communities. They can be frustratingly slow, expensive, unable to handle multiple internet users or unreliable in bad weather. That’s why fiber internet is so transformative. With Lumos, you’ll enjoy a new, faster and more dependable way to work, learn and connect remotely, even if the nearest big city is miles away.
How can I know if Lumos has service in my area?
Lumos is committed to bringing 100% Fiber Optic Internet to small towns and rural communities like yours. Check if Lumos is available in your North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia region. We are continuing to grow our network every month!
Find out if Lumos Fiber Internet is available for your home.