Ribbon Communications and Vibrant Broadband Upgrade Middle Mile Network Infrastructure

Ribbon Communications has partnered with Vibrant Broadband to upgrade its middle mile network infrastructure. The upgrade features a tenfold increase in bandwidth capacity and improved operational efficiency. The new infrastructure supports rural broadband expansion in underserved Midwest communities. Ribbon's solutions enhance scalability, operational efficiency, and network control, providing long-term benefits and new revenue opportunities. This initiative aligns with Ribbon's commitment to empowering communities through cutting-edge technology and robust support services.

Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) has announced a strategic partnership with Vibrant Broadband, a subsidiary of Meeker Energy, to upgrade its middle mile network infrastructure. The collaboration, which was announced on August 18, 2025, aims to significantly enhance rural broadband services in underserved communities within the Midwest.

The upgrade, which includes Ribbon's NPT 2100 IP aggregation router and the MUSE Multilayer Automation Platform, is expected to deliver a tenfold increase in bandwidth capacity. This substantial improvement will enable Vibrant Broadband to better serve its growing customer base and support future technologies. The new infrastructure is designed to be scalable, operationally efficient, and provide comprehensive network control, thereby opening new revenue opportunities for the company.

Ribbon's proactive and collaborative approach, combined with its technical expertise and high-touch support organization, has been cited as a key factor in making it the ideal partner for this initiative. According to Andrew Kalkbrenner, IT Manager at Vibrant Broadband, "This upgrade marks a major milestone for us, enabling us to expand our service offerings, better serve our growing customer base, and support future technologies."

Elizabeth Page, U.S. Regional Sales Leader at Ribbon, expressed pride in supporting Vibrant Broadband's mission to bring world-class connectivity to rural communities. She stated, "This partnership exemplifies how we empower utility providers to leverage and monetize their networks efficiently and effectively."

Ribbon Communications is committed to delivering secure cloud communications and IP and optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure sectors globally. The company's end-to-end portfolio of communications software and IP Optical networking solutions leverages cloud-native architectures, automation and analytics tools, and leading-edge security. This commitment to innovation and sustainability aligns with Ribbon's focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters.

The partnership between Ribbon Communications and Vibrant Broadband represents a significant step forward in addressing the persistent bottleneck in rural connectivity posed by middle mile infrastructure. By enhancing Vibrant Broadband's service delivery capabilities, the upgrade will help to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas, fostering economic growth and improved quality of life for residents.

References:
[1] https://investors.ribboncommunications.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vibrant-broadband-transforms-middle-mile-infrastructure-ribbon
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/vibrant-broadband-transforms-middle-mile-infrastructure-with-ribbon-ce7c51dfd08dfe24
[3] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/RBBN/vibrant-broadband-transforms-middle-mile-infrastructure-with-mh80ydtdhcke.html