The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click here. This episode is sponsored by intelegrate and VETRO FiberMap.
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine sits down with Steve Smith, Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of LiveOak Fiber, to discuss how a Greenfield fiber startup rapidly became one of the most prominent regional broadband providers in the Southeast.
LiveOak Fiber launched in 2022 with the mission to build high-quality, resilient fiber networks in underserved but fast-growing communities across southern Georgia and northern Florida. Backed by significant infrastructure investment and guided by decades of telecom experience, the company has already passed roughly 200,000 homes and connected more than 40,000 customers.
Steve shares how thoughtful market selection, disciplined execution, and a strong local-first philosophy helped LiveOak scale quickly while delivering a better customer experience than legacy providers.
Instead of chasing dense urban areas, the company targeted high-growth regions that were overlooked by incumbents. These “in-between” markets often experienced population growth post-pandemic but lacked modern infrastructure investment.
Key criteria included:
This strategy allowed LiveOak to move quickly, establish a foothold, and build momentum in regions where demand for reliable connectivity was already rising.
LiveOak Fiber invested heavily in underground conduit-based infrastructure rather than relying on aerial or minimally protected builds. This approach increases durability and reduces outages, especially in regions prone to hurricanes and severe weather.
Key elements of their network strategy:
Performance during major storm events validated the approach, with customers maintaining service even during widespread outages—provided they had backup power.
Live Oak approached the business as an operating platform from day one, focusing on long-term structure rather than short-term wins.
Growth milestones include:
The company also expanded across customer segments over time:
This phased approach helped manage complexity while maximizing revenue opportunities.
Success in smaller markets depends on more than technology. It depends on trust, visibility, and participation.
The company emphasizes:
Showing up consistently—especially during challenges—helps build credibility and long-term customer loyalty.
LiveOak built its culture intentionally from the start.
Two guiding principles stand out:
The company prioritizes hiring experienced, adaptable leaders who have worked across multiple functions in telecom. This creates a team capable of making fast decisions while maintaining operational discipline.
A strong culture also translates directly into customer experience, reinforcing the brand promise in every interaction.
Steve highlights several key lessons from launching and scaling LiveOak Fiber:
These lessons reflect the realities of competing against large incumbents while building something new from the ground up.
LiveOak Fiber is a regional broadband provider building high-speed fiber networks across southern Georgia and northern Florida, focused on underserved and fast-growing communities.
The company has grown to more than 40,000 customers and passed around 200,000 homes in under four years.
Live Oak emphasizes underground conduit-based fiber, redundant architecture, and weather resilience to deliver more reliable service.
These markets often lack investment from large providers but show strong population growth and demand for better connectivity.
It means actively participating in the community, building relationships, and being accountable to customers beyond just providing internet service.
Fiber startups compete by focusing on underserved markets, moving faster, delivering better customer experiences, and building modern infrastructure from scratch.
Fiber uses light signals instead of electrical signals, making it less susceptible to interference, weather damage, and signal degradation.
A Greenfield build refers to constructing a new network from scratch rather than upgrading existing infrastructure.
Reliable broadband drives economic growth, supports remote work, improves education access, and increases property values.
Symmetrical speed means upload and download speeds are equal, which is important for video calls, cloud applications, and remote work.
Timelines vary, but large-scale regional builds can take several years depending on funding, permitting, and construction conditions.
LiveOak Fiber’s rapid rise highlights a broader shift in broadband: smaller, focused providers can compete and win by combining modern infrastructure with strong community engagement.
Technology alone is not the differentiator. Execution, culture, and local trust ultimately determine success.
© 2026 Enhanced Telecommunications.
