Render Networks Wins “Light It Up” Award at Fiber Connect 2025

Honoring Render’s leadership and innovation in accelerating fiber broadband deployment

Render Networks, a leader in intelligent network construction management, has been awarded the “Light It Up” Award by the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) at Fiber Connect 2025. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in accelerating fiber broadband network expansion through innovation in construction, planning and integration.

“We’re honored to receive the Light It Up Award from the Fiber Broadband Association,” said Stephen Rose, CEO at Render Networks. “This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and collaboration that drive everything we do. We’re proud to share it with our incredible customers, Connect2First and Irby Utilities. Together, we’re accelerating broadband deployment and delivering transformative connectivity to the communities that need it most.”

Presented at the FBA’s awards ceremony on June 2, the honor highlights Render’s role in one of the most impactful broadband deployments in the country. In partnership with Connect2First and Irby Utilities, Render’s platform helped bring fiber internet to underserved locations across 18 Arkansas counties, completing the project 50% ahead of schedule.

“The partnership with Render has allowed us to consistently deploy high-speed internet to our membership at a pace that exceeds industry standards,” said Randy Everett, GISP, Chief Broadband Officer, Connect2First. “Delivering fiber to rural Arkansas is improving quality of life in ways we never imagined. It’s opening doors to telehealth access for families who previously had to travel hours for care, expanding educational opportunities for students through reliable online learning, and helping entire communities participate in today’s digital economy.”

Render’s intelligent, cloud-based platform replaced manual processes and disconnected field operations with a fully integrated, data-driven approach. By streamlining deployment from design through installation, the team eliminated common inefficiencies that slow rural builds. Real-time data and automated work sequencing provided full field visibility, accelerated issue resolution, and increased monthly drops by 400%. This collaboration demonstrates the impact of aligning modern technology with a strong community mission. It delivered critical connectivity at speed and scale, overcoming rural terrain, labor shortages, and tight timelines.

“The individuals and organizations recognized this year are driving real progress in our industry,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO of Fiber Broadband Association. “Their leadership, innovation and commitment to delivering high-performance fiber broadband are not only connecting communities, but also shaping the future of economic opportunity and technological advancement.”

About Render Networks

Founded in 2013 with a mission to build and connect communities faster, Render has a successful history of streamlining large-scale network construction for network operators and construction teams. By automating manual tasks and optimizing the productivity of every resource, Render’s digital construction management platform eliminates process inefficiency, achieving real-time progress transparency and building networks >15% faster. For more information, visit www.rendernetworks.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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