Funding the 12-State Rural Broadband Footprint
Rural broadband is having its infrastructure moment, and Nextlink Internet is at the center of it.
Nextlink, one of the largest rural-focused fixed wireless providers in the United States, has expanded its existing agreement with Aviat Networks to support its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program buildout. Deploying Aviat’s microwave, E-Band and multi-band wireless transport systems, Nextlink will use the expanded agreement to connect thousands of unserved and underserved locations across its 12-state footprint in the Central United States.
The scale of what Nextlink is executing is significant. The company has secured over $180 million in BEAD funding, on top of the $429.2 million Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) award it previously received from the FCC, making it one of the most active fixed wireless participants in federal broadband programs. Nextlink recently activated what is reported to be the first wireless tower in the nation to be funded by the BEAD program, in Louisiana, with thousands more sites to follow across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
Why Wireless Transport and Backhaul Matter for BEAD Compliance
The choice of wireless transport matters as much as the access technology. Backhaul,the link connecting a fixed wireless tower to the internet backbone, determines the capacity and reliability that end users actually experience. Aviat’s microwave, E-Band and multi-band platforms are engineered for exactly this environment: long spans across flat terrain, harsh weather, and the throughput demands of serving hundreds of subscribers per tower at BEAD-mandated minimum speeds.
Overcoming Supply Chain Hurdles with Accelerated Procurement
That pace matters. BEAD subgrant recipients face deployment milestones and reporting obligations, and delays in backhaul procurement can cascade across an entire buildout program. Aviat’s ability to support rapid procurement, including through the Aviat Store, the industry’s purpose-built e-commerce platform for wireless ISPs, is a practical advantage at the scale Nextlink is operating.
The BEAD program represents a once-in-a-generation investment in rural connectivity. Nextlink and Aviat’s expanded partnership is one of the clearest examples of that capital flowing through to real infrastructure, in communities that have waited years for reliable broadband.
Accelerate Your Rural Broadband Buildout
Meeting strict federal deployment milestones requires more than just field readiness—it requires execution certainty and a reliable supply chain. Whether you are navigating BEAD subgrants, RDOF obligations, or private network expansions, Aviat Networks provides the high-capacity wireless transport solutions and rapid procurement workflows needed to keep your project on schedule.
Ready to streamline your wireless backhaul procurement?
Explore our comprehensive portfolio of microwave and E-Band systems, or order directly today through the Aviat Store—the industry’s purpose-built e-commerce platform for fast, reliable hardware delivery.
TL;DR: The Fast Facts
- The News: Nextlink Internet and Aviat Networks are expanding their partnership to deploy critical rural broadband infrastructure [Read press release].
- The Funding: Powered by Nextlink’s $180M+ in BEAD funding (on top of $429.2M in RDOF awards).
- The Scope: Connecting unserved and underserved communities across a 12-state footprint in the Central United States, kicking off with the nation’s first BEAD-funded wireless tower in Louisiana.
- The Tech: Utilizing Aviat’s advanced microwave, E-Band, and multi-band wireless transport platforms to deliver high-capacity, reliable backhaul capable of meeting strict federal speed requirements.