Fiber Fueled, Growth Driven: The Trail to Broadband Success in Northeast Georgia

In the rolling hills of northeast Georgia, an internet revolution has taken root. Trailwave Fiber, a wholly owned subsidiary of Habersham EMC (HEMC), has become the region’s leading internet provider with the area’s only 100% fiber-optic network—delivering reliable connectivity to rural communities.

Now serving more than 14,000 members across six counties, Trailwave’s subscriber base is expanding rapidly alongside the service territory’s growing population, as HEMC’s rural communities balance the need to stay connected in a digital world with the desire to live within the natural beauty of the region. Trailwave Fiber is making it possible for local residents and businesses to “have it all” for the first time.

The journey to success began back in 2009 when HEMC helped launch the North Georgia Network Cooperative and secured a $42.3 million federal grant. That investment funded the initial infrastructure needed to bring fiber internet to northeast Georgia— laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Trailwave Fiber.

For several years, however, progress moved slowly. Then, in 2020, COVID hit, reemphasizing the need for reliable high-speed internet access and sparking a transformation at Trailwave: Bryan Ferguson stepped into the role of President & CEO. In 2021, Josh Allen became Vice President of Engineering & Operations, and Tommy Thurmond joined as Vice President of Member & Community Relations. At the same time, Kelly Wilkins, VP of Finance and Accounting, assumed the fiscal oversight for Trailwave Fiber. With fresh leadership came a renewed focus on strategy, growth, and bold ambitions for the future.

By late 2022, Trailwave had just 7,500 subscribers. But the team had a clear vision: to reach all 28,000 Habersham EMC members and complete its on-system network build by Q3 2026. That vision led them to Conexon.

Although fiber already reached every HEMC substation at this time, the network had yet to be extended across the entire service territory. Trailwave needed a partner with the scale and expertise to accelerate deployment—and Conexon was the right fit. Over the course of 18 months, the two organizations worked together to turn the concept into a fully actionable plan.

The HEMC and Trailwave boards approved the broadband plan in September 2023 and construction officially started in January 2024.

Since then, growth has skyrocketed. Building on HEMC's existing power line infrastructure, Trailwave, with the help of Conexon, has added more than 6,500 subscribers in just two years and built over 1,300 miles of fiber — doubling its subscriber count and making major strides toward its goal of universal connectivity for its growing member base. Conexon supports Trailwave across multiple areas, bringing expertise in Design, Project Management, Field Services, Splicing, Regulatory, and Marketing.

With less than one year to go, communities still awaiting service are eager to experience the benefits of Trailwave Fiber. From access to telemedicine and the ability to work and learn remotely to the economic boost for small businesses, the impact of reliable, high-speed internet is already evident and continues to grow along with its network.

“Trailwave Fiber is transforming the way rural Northeast Georgia connects to the world,” said Ferguson. “By delivering reliable, high-speed broadband, we’re empowering communities with the tools they need to grow and succeed—whether that’s supporting local businesses, enhancing educational opportunities, giving access to medical care or improving everyday life. Our commitment to exceptional service and affordable pricing ensures that everyone has access to the connectivity they deserve.”