Spirit Communications’ new contract to boost SC wireless service

Columbia-based Spirit Communications announced on Wednesday the biggest contract in the history of its fiber optic network division with an unnamed wireless company.

The multimillion-dollar, 20-year contract commits subsidiary PalmettoNet to provide fiber optics lines and connections to Spirit’s 6,000-mile network in the Carolinas, company spokesman Roddy Broadnax said. The wireless company would not authorize release of its name intends to build more than 650 towers in Columbia, Greenville and Charleston to which the network will be connected, he said.

“It’s a major provider that everybody knows,” Broadnax said of the wireless company, which previously had shorter-term contracts with PalmettoNet. “This will solidify our relationship.” The wireless company provides voice and data service to residential and business customers, he said.

Spirit raised its profile in the Capital City when it won a 10-year contract to place its name on Columbia’s publicly owned professional baseball stadium that is to open in time for the spring 2016 baseball season.

Spirit president Bob Keane said the new contract will affect the wireless provider’s customers. “The significant increase in fiber capacity will change the landscape of wireless voice and data use for consumers in South Carolina,” he said in a statement. “This allows Spirit Communications to grow our fiber network throughout the Carolinas ... strengthening our fiber-based services for business customers.”

Towers in Greenville will be the first built by the wireless company and connect to Spirit’s network because Spirit already was installing lines in that Upstate city, Broadnax said. Construction in Columbia is to start by spring and Charleston will follow later in 2016, the spokesman said.

This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 1:38 PM.