From Disconnected to Thriving:

5 Ways Fiber Broadband Strengthens Underserved Communities

December 01, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST

For business owners in areas with ready access to high-speed internet, the costs of not having that access often goes unnoticed. For those on the other side of the digital divide, the challenges are painfully obvious and show up every day in multiple ways.

According to Catchpoint’s Internet Resilience Report 2025, 42% of IT leaders say slow internet affects their business just as much as a full outage. On the other side of the connection, online customers appear to be running out of patience when it comes to slow internet. The Aberdeen Group reports that about one in five customers will leave a company’s website if it takes more than three seconds to load.

Fiber internet is a powerful solution that provides reliable, high-speed, and symmetrical upload and download speeds, unlike traditional copper lines. When done well, fiber broadband can not only drive rapid and sustained business growth, but it can also serve as a catalyst for community and regional development. 

Here are five important ways fiber internet from providers like Glo Fiber Business can deliver game-changing results for rural businesses and strengthen the communities in which they work. 

 

#1 Boosting E-commerce and Expanding Market Reach

 

Rural businesses are often limited by local foot traffic and struggle to compete with urban counterparts online due to slow internet. Fiber broadband enables these businesses to level the playing field. High-speed internet allows for seamless e-commerce operations, real-time inventory management, and faster transaction processing. At the same time, the reach and faster speeds of an all-fiber broadband network enable small businesses to expand their customer base beyond their immediate community, using robust online stores and digital marketing strategies.

 

#2 Enabling Remote Work and Attracting Talent

 

Underserved areas often suffer from "brain drain" as younger, skilled workers move to urban centers for better job opportunities that require high-speed internet. Fiber internet makes remote and hybrid work models viable, allowing residents to access a broader range of job opportunities without relocating. High-speed, reliable internet is also a top consideration for people moving to new areas. The ability to live in a rural community while working for an urban or global company helps retain local talent and injects new income into the local economy. The availability of fiber broadband in the community also improves healthcare services and educational opportunities, key factors for working families who are deciding where to relocate. 

 

#3 Fueling Entrepreneurship and Innovation

 

Starting a new business in an underserved area is challenging without access to modern digital resources. Fast fiber internet can lower barriers to entry by providing entrepreneurs with access to global markets, business loans, and venture capital, enabling them to launch and scale their ventures. So, too, high-speed broadband can supercharge business innovation. In rural communities, fiber internet unlocks the potential for entrepreneurship, creative projects, and technological advancements. With access to a wealth of information and tools, rural innovators can bring their ideas to fruition. Fiber enables the use of cloud-based tools and services, streamlining operations and boosting efficiency for local startups and existing businesses. Studies, such as those from the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), show significantly higher business growth rates in rural counties with high broadband use.

 

#4 Improving Access to Healthcare and Education

 

Limited internet access creates significant disadvantages in healthcare and education for underserved communities. Fiber broadband enables local municipalities, schools and healthcare providers to better serve the community while building a digital foundation for future growth.

Reliable fiber internet enables high-quality telemedicine, allowing residents to consult with specialists without long-distance travel. This is crucial for managing chronic conditions and providing access to mental health services. Inside the classroom, high-speed internet is driving enriched and more engaging learning platforms while supporting greater campus security and communication with parents. At home, fiber access provides students with equal access to online resources and virtual classrooms that help close the "learning opportunity gap" for all students.

 

#5 Attracting Investment and Driving Economic Development

 

Businesses and corporations often overlook underserved communities because of outdated infrastructure. Deploying fiber signals that a community is ready for the digital age, making it more attractive to tech companies and other businesses that rely on robust connectivity. It can also increase both residential and commercial property values.

 

Glo Fiber Business: Connecting Businesses, Strengthening Communities

 

Glo Fiber Business strengthens rural communities by providing high-speed, reliable fiber internet infrastructure that serves as a foundation for economic development, enhanced public services, and improved quality of life. In addition, our residential fiber-to-the-home service provides the same reliable internet services to residents across communities. This offering supports people who work remotely and gives them – and their companies – the ability to remain productive from the office or at work. Glo Fiber’s unique ability to serve businesses and residents offers multiple ways to build and strengthen communities through reliable internet access.

By providing access to advanced fiber technologies and services, like dedicated internet access, dark fiber and managed network services, Glo Fiber Business helps communities attract and retain businesses, leading to job creation and economic stability. Businesses with robust connectivity can expand their operations and compete on a broader scale, which circulates money within the local economy.

For example, dedicated internet access (DIA) ensures businesses have consistent, symmetrical upload and download speeds, which streamlines daily operations like managing point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory, scheduling, and real-time communication. Glo Fiber Business also provides reliable fiber voice solutions that feature a variety of advanced productivity-enhancement features such as integration with email and CRM platforms, which are vital for customer service and team collaboration.

As a local/regional provider with a strong presence in rural communities, Glo Fiber Business ensures businesses have access to high-touch customer service and expertise when needed, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on their core competencies. The company understands the unique needs and budget requirements of its customers and can tailor a flexible, scalable plan that supports the business as it grows, adapting to changing technology and customer expectations without unnecessary complexity.

Digital transformation inside the business ripples throughout the community, attracting financial investment and economic development opportunities. The result is a healthier, more educated population, a more productive workforce, and a stronger community.

 

To learn more about Glo Fiber Business’s services for small and medium businesses and enterprises, request a free quote.