Construction is moving forward on Segment 1 of the Maine Online Optical Statewide Enabling Network (MOOSE Net), with Sertex crews beginning fiber line deployment from Calais to Bangor.

On July 6, a convoy of Sertex trucks loaded with fiber reels rolled out from the company’s Sidney, Maine, warehouse, marking another important step in the statewide middle-mile broadband build. The trucks were headed east to support deployment along the Segment 1 route, where crews will begin placing the fiber infrastructure that will help form part of Maine’s high-capacity broadband backbone.

The momentum behind the project is captured in this clip: trucks staged, fiber loaded, and crews mobilizing for the work ahead. It’s a quick behind-the-scenes look at the planning, coordination, and field effort required to move a major broadband construction project from materials staging to active deployment.

Once the materials arrived at the project site, Sertex crews began installing the first reel of fiber optic cable for the MOOSE Net Middle Mile Network.

Stay tuned for more updates as MOOSE Net construction continues across Maine!

Strategic acquisition strengthens Sertex’s Maine presence and supports broadband infrastructure initiatives across northern New England

PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield, CT – June 17, 2026 - Sertex Broadband Solutions, a regional leader in fiber optic infrastructure services throughout the Northeast, today announced its acquisition of Trenchworks Inc., a Maine-based telecommunications construction company specializing in aerial and underground fiber optic infrastructure deployment. The acquisition marks a significant step in Sertex's strategic expansion across northern New England and reinforces the company's commitment to broadband deployment, workforce development, and long-term investment in Maine and the region.

The acquisition expands Sertex's construction capacity in Maine, immediately adding four experienced field crews, specialized equipment, and a highly skilled workforce with deep local knowledge and strong relationships throughout the state's telecommunications sector. Former Trenchworks owners Ryan Daggett and Brock Hagopian, along with eight employees, have joined the Sertex team and will operate from the company's recently opened Sidney regional office. Daggett will serve as Sertex’s Operations Manager for Maine and New Hampshire, overseeing regional field operations and growth initiatives. With the addition of the 10 former Trenchworks team members and two recent hires, Sertex now employs 12 fiber professionals working exclusively in Maine.

The move comes as Sertex continues to expand its role in some of the region's most significant broadband infrastructure projects, including construction of approximately 450 miles of the MOOSE Net middle-mile fiber network, a statewide initiative designed to improve broadband access and connectivity for rural Maine communities.

"This acquisition positions Sertex for the future and is an important step toward expanding our workforce in Maine," said Michael Solitro, founder and CEO of Sertex Broadband Solutions. "As broadband investment accelerates across northern New England, we are building the resources and local presence necessary to deliver large-scale projects safely, efficiently, and at the highest level of quality. Trenchworks gives us an established foundation and a talented team that shares our values and commitment to excellence as we ramp up construction of the MOOSE Net middle mile network."

Founded in Connecticut more than 30 years ago, Sertex has grown into a leading fiber infrastructure contractor in the Northeast, serving telecommunications providers, utilities, municipalities, and public broadband initiatives throughout the region. The company has earned a reputation for tackling complex deployments in challenging environments while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality workmanship, and customer service.

The acquisition reinforces Sertex's commitment to creating long-term employment opportunities and developing its skilled broadband workforce throughout New England. Through its “earn while you learn” TIRAP apprenticeships – a structured program approved by the Maine Department of Labor that combines paid, hands-on work experience with documented training – Sertex demonstrates its strong commitment to workforce development and career advancement. The company currently has eight employees enrolled in the program and plans to extend participation opportunities to eligible staff in its Maine regional office as they meet program requirements.

Founded in 2022, Trenchworks established itself as a respected provider of aerial and underground communications construction services across Maine. Its experienced workforce has supported hundreds of miles of fiber deployment projects for internet service providers, utilities, and public broadband programs throughout the state.

With all active contracts and customer relationships now transitioned to Sertex, the Trenchworks team will continue serving Maine customers and communities as part of Sertex, maintaining the same commitment to quality, safety, and service that has defined both organizations.

About Sertex Broadband Solutions

Sertex Broadband Solutions is a regional leader in fiber optic network deployment with more than 30 years of experience serving telecommunications, utility, and municipal customers. Recognized as an FTTH Top 100 company, Sertex specializes in building resilient digital infrastructure that connects unserved and underserved communities, including challenging terrain and remote environments.
Learn more at www.sertexbroadband.com.

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Colocation huts and fiber strand support end-to-end broadband construction project

PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield, CT — June 2, 2026 – Recently, Sertex Broadband Solutions received the first three of nine prefabricated colocation huts and the first reels of fiber optic cable to support construction of the MOOSE Net middle-mile fiber network. This marks a key milestone in the construction of more than 450 miles of high-performance infrastructure across Maine.

30-Ton Telecom Collocation Huts

Each 12-by-20-by-10-foot precast concrete colocation hut weighs approximately 63,000 pounds. The three units were transported from South Dakota on flatbed trucks to Central Maine Crane. A crane offloaded each structure from the flatbed, carefully placing the three side by side. All nine huts will be delivered by June when installation will begin across the state.

Each hut installation is engineered for resilience and reliability. The units will be positioned on cast-in-place concrete frost-wall foundations within 40×40-square-foot secure, fenced enclosures. Inside, they will house advanced telecommunications equipment supported by redundant power systems, diverse fiber entry points, dual HVAC units, and continuous 24/7 network monitoring.

Fiber Optic Cable Arrives

The first five reels of Corning outside plant (OSP) fiber are secured in the new Sertex warehouse in Sidney, ME. Make-Ready work is anticipated to begin at the end of June, with strand and fiber construction following in July.

FTTH deployment brings critical broadband connectivity to dozens of communities

PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield, CT – April 28, 2026 - Sertex Broadband Solutions, a regional leader in fiber optic infrastructure services throughout the Northeast, today announced it has been awarded two Master Service Agreements (MSA) to support broadband infrastructure expansion efforts in western Massachusetts. The contracts reflect the region’s continued investment in high-speed, reliable internet access.

“These awards represent meaningful progress toward closing connectivity gaps in Massachusetts,” said Michael Solitro, founder and CEO of Sertex Broadband Solutions. “We are proud to partner with these municipal utilities to deliver the infrastructure needed for economic development, education, public safety, and quality of life.”

Westfield Gas & Electric/Whip City Fiber

Westfield Gas & Electric’s Whip City Fiber division recently awarded Sertex a one-year MSA with two optional one-year renewals to install underground service drops connecting the existing distribution fiber network to residential and business properties.

Construction will take place across multiple communities in western Massachusetts, with Westfield serving as the mobilization hub. The project is expected to include more than 1,000 underground service drops, serving the communities of Charlemont, Colrain, Greenfield, Heath, Leyden, Rowe, New Ashford, Ashfield, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Windsor, New Salem, Wendell, Alford, Becket, Blandford, Otis, Washington, Westfield, West Springfield, Southwick, and East Longmeadow.

Sertex has maintained a years-long working relationship with Westfield Gas & Electric since 2016, supporting prior network buildout and expansion efforts, contributing to the continued growth of the network’s regional fiber footprint.

Chicopee Electric Light/Crossroads Fiber

Sertex has also been awarded a new one-year MSA, with two optional one-year renewals, with Chicopee Electric Light (CEL) to support Crossroads Fiber, a state-of-the-art, municipally-owned 100% fiber network serving the residents and businesses of Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Under this agreement, Sertex will install underground conduit for Chicopee’s FTTH expansion and provide ongoing maintenance and repair services. The contract includes rigorous service standards, including a four-hour on-site response for emergency repairs, and a next-business-day response for scheduled maintenance.

The award builds on Sertex’s 2025 fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project award with CEL, and further strengthens a successful, long-time partnership that began in 2019.

About Sertex Broadband Solutions
Sertex Broadband Solutions specializes in fiber optic network construction, maintenance, and deployment services for municipalities, utilities, and broadband providers. The company is committed to delivering high-quality, scalable infrastructure that expands access to fast, reliable internet across underserved and growing communities.

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Sidney facility to serve as hub for MOOSE Net engineering and construction

PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield, CT – March 25, 2026 - Sertex Broadband Solutions, a regional leader in fiber optic infrastructure services throughout the Northeast, today announced the opening of a new Maine regional office in Sidney. The facility – located just outside Augusta – includes 9,600 square feet of combined indoor and covered storage space, establishing a long-term operational hub for engineering, construction, and logistics activities supporting the statewide Maine Online Optical Statewide Enabling Network (MOOSE Net).

The Sidney property offers significant advantages for a large-scale, multi-year fiber build, including 7,200 sq ft of interior warehouse and office space, two loading docks, and exterior laydown space, along with proximity to I-95, Exit 113, enabling efficient deployment of crews and materials throughout central and rural Maine.

“Establishing a regional office shows our long-term commitment to Maine and to the communities MOOSE Net will eventually serve,” said Michael Solitro, founder and CEO. “This facility allows us to mobilize crews, materials, and engineering resources more efficiently as we build critical infrastructure to support Maine’s digital economy.”

Sertex was awarded the MOOSE Net design-build contract in 2025. Under this agreement, Sertex is responsible for constructing 450 miles of MOOSE Net’s 530-mile fiber backbone – critical infrastructure that will bring affordable, reliable broadband access to some of Maine’s most rural and underserved communities.

Sertex’s scope of work includes network design, engineering, and permitting, as well as construction of extended rural fiber spans across the challenging terrain. Installation activities will include aerial and underground construction, fiber splicing and termination, and comprehensive network testing. Construction is expected to span two years, with field crews operating across multiple regions of the state.

About Sertex Broadband Solutions

Sertex Broadband Solutions is a regional leader in fiber optic network deployment with more than 30 years of experience serving telecommunications, utility, and municipal customers. Recognized as an FTTH Top 100 company, Sertex specializes in building resilient digital infrastructure that connects unserved and underserved communities, including challenging terrain and remote environments.
Learn more at www.sertexbroadband.com.

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The Sertex 2026 Annual Training program included leadership workshops, classroom modules, and hands-on refreshers to make safety a daily practice.

Every year, Sertex leadership brings our teams together to strengthen the skills, relationships, and culture that make our work possible. In 2026, that tradition continues with a renewed focus on the principle that anchors everything we do: leadership is safety.

The program launched with Leadership Training, followed by the first of three Safety Training sessions. Additional safety sessions will continue through March and April, ensuring every member of our active deployment workforce can participate without slowing down project momentum. These staggered sessions reflect our commitment to both productivity and people—prioritizing training while supporting field readiness across New England.

The leadership workshop brought management and supervisory employees together from across departments and project deployments for open, honest discussion to shape priorities for the year ahead. Feedback reinforced what employees value most:

• A family‑style atmosphere where people feel supported and known
• A true open‑door policy, creating comfort in raising concerns without judgment
• Competitive benefits, including 401(k), health insurance, PTO, and paid training
• Work–life flexibility and support for personal needs
• Opportunities to learn, gain independence, and master different aspects of the field
• A sense of trust, autonomy, and being recognized for quality work

Our Safety Culture in Action

The 2026 safety training program is modeled on our proven approach, integrating interactive discussions, classroom work, and hands-on practice. In post-training feedback, team members shared how they will apply learning to actions on the job: daily tailboards and DVIRs, more frequent PPE and ladder inspections, thorough pole checks and proper FVD use, heightened hazard awareness, and coaching new hires to speak up because "safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

Across both leadership and safety training sessions, a consistent theme emerged: Safety isn’t a checklist—it’s leadership in action.

Leadership means:

• Communicating clearly
• Supporting personal and professional growth
• Giving every employee the confidence to speak up
• Modeling safe behavior, every day, on every site

Safety means:

• Protecting each other
• Following processes
• Staying alert to risks
• Building habits that send everyone home safe at the end of every shift

The bottom line at Sertex is that leadership and safety are inseparable. For customers, our commitment to both is demonstrated by fewer incidents, steadier schedules, and consistent quality.

Sertex is integrating emergency medical services (EMS) safety measures into the first segment of Maine’s MOOSE Net fiber build—ensuring reliable rural connectivity without compromising the safety of flight crews, first responders, residents, and travelers.

Sertex is currently building out the first of six segments of Maine’s MOOSE Net fiber network, a project that will eventually bring affordable, reliable internet connectivity to Maine’s most rural and underserved communities. As a “middle mile” network, MOOSE Net will serve as the internet’s equivalent of an interstate highway, transmitting large volumes of data between regional networks and the broader web.

A Safety Challenge on Route 9

Construction of this first segment includes a quiet, sparsely populated 3.5-mile stretch of Route 9 that connects the towns of Cherryfield and Wesley, where 66 new utility poles are being installed to connect two previously unconnected sections of electric and cable utility service.

What began as a relatively simple aerial fiber installation has become something a bit more dramatic – an opportunity to ensure public safety and protect the lives of emergency response teams and their patients.

This relatively short, remote stretch of Route 9 includes several dangerous hairpin turns, and vehicles frequently travel at high speeds. When vehicle crashes or medical emergencies involving residents or visitors happen in this remote area, LifeFlight of Maine is often dispatched to airlift patients, as ground transport to the nearest hospital could take hours.

Until the MOOSE Net aerial build began, emergency helicopters had been able to land easily and safely at either the Great Wilderness Hunting Lodge on the west end of this segment of Route 9, or the sandpit on the east end, simply because both areas lacked the utility poles and hard-to-see overhead transmission wires that often endanger EMS flight crews. Wire strikes, including collisions with transmission lines, are a significant hazard and a leading cause of fatal medevac helicopter accidents. While not an everyday occurrence, these accidents happen often enough to be a major safety concern. With the MOOSE Net aerial construction adding cables and wires to the landscape, Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials requested lifesaving safety measures.

Collaborating for Rapid, Practical Solutions

Sertex worked closely with the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), MDOT, Wesley Fire Department, and LifeFlight of Maine emergency services to ensure pilot and crew safety by engineering and installing aerial marker balls on overhead wires near both helicopter landing zones to improve visibility and reduce risk during emergency landings. Work is scheduled to be completed in January 2026.

While timelines may continue to evolve on the MOOSE Net buildout, overall project completion is currently projected for 2027. As this work moves forward, it reflects Sertex and MCA’s broader commitment to expanding connectivity in rural Maine without compromising the safety of those who live, work, and travel there