Ritter and Great Plains merge to form Rightfiber, a telecom giant eyeing more deals
What's the deal? Jonesboro-based Ritter CommunicationsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Great Plains CommunicationsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → of Blair, Nebraska, are merging to form Rightfiber, a privately held telecom that will operate across 20 states and manage 28,000 miles of fiber infrastructure. The company will debut as one of the largest privately held telecom providers in the US.
What's the endgame? Rightfiber is already positioning for more growth, including further acquisitions. "We're already talking to some folks now," said chief executive Heath Simpson, the Ritter CEO tapped to lead the new company. "We're always looking at opportunities."
Who's behind it? Both companies are portfolio companies of Grain ManagementDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Washington, D.C. firm that manages roughly $6.7 billion in assets, all in digital infrastructure. Grain acquired a majority stake in Ritter in 2019 and has funded fiber expansion at both providers.
Why now? Simpson said the merger, announced in June 2026, will give Rightfiber greater purchasing power, better financing terms, and more capacity to expand into unserved and underserved communities. It will prioritise rural and small-town markets rather than larger urban areas.
"We're not going after the biggest cities," Simpson said in an interview with Arkansas Business. He added the company will keep upgrading networks for existing customers, not just chasing new communities.
What changes for customers? Little, according to the company. Existing contracts and rates will stay the same, and Simpson said the merger won't disrupt customer services or experiences.
The Arkansas angle: Operations in the state will remain largely unchanged. Ritter has a strong presence in Jonesboro, Little Rock, and northwest and north-central Arkansas, which Simpson described as an operational hub. "Arkansas is home. We never forget that," he said.
The signal: The deal reflects consolidation among regional fiber providers, as private-equity-backed operators combine to gain scale, financing leverage, and the reach to bring high-speed service — including recently launched seven-gigabit connections in Texas — to rural markets that larger carriers often overlook.
Read more: Arkansas Business
Image credit: Muffet
