Blackstone-backed fiber internet provider expands locally

A Fort Lauderdale-based fiber optic internet provider supported by Blackstone, a trillion-dollar global investment firm, has brought its unique business model to Tampa Bay.

Hotwire Communications is the third fiber optic-focused company to announce its move into St. Petersburg and the surrounding area in about a month. David Ramos, president of the “luxury” internet provider’s enterprise business, said Blackstone’s investment in 2021 has propelled expansion.

Hotwire serves homeowner’s associations, master-planned communities, businesses and schools rather than individual residences. The company established a stronghold in South Florida after launching in 2002 and realized market similarities in Tampa Bay.

“We got really aggressive and strategic to ensure we could bring the same level of service, support and technology to the greater Tampa-Suncoast market,” Ramos said. “It’s been a great segue for us from the South Florida market over to that coast.”

He explained that Hotwire spends 18 to 24 months establishing a presence in a new market before going public. That includes ensuring regulatory compliance, implementing infrastructure, building data centers and securing local staff who can provide “white glove” concierge customer service.

Ramos said Hotwire then targets “anchor-type” enterprise customers, including new mixed-use developments. The company leveraged relationships with previous clients to complete its first projects in downtown Tampa.

Hotwire has partnered with large homebuilders to enter underserved satellite markets like Pasco County. Ramos looks forward to forging new relationships in St. Petersburg and the surrounding area. “If anyone is interested in finding out more about our story, we’re happy to tell it, and feel free to reach out,” he said.

Ramos said Hotwire disrupts legacy cable and telecommunication providers when installing its company-owned fiber optic lines. “We have zero coax (cable) in our infrastructure.”

While providing direct-to-customer fiber is a challenge, Ramos said it allows Hotwire to offer “all the bells and whistles,” including multi-gigabit speeds, automation, home security services and smart home technology. “We can lay it on top of that infrastructure.”

David Ramos, president of Fision Enterprise for Hotwire Communications.

He said Hotwire must earn the right to serve a market by showing that the company cares about the surrounding community. Ramos pledged that the company is here for the long haul and provides “best in class” connectivity, customer service and tech support.

Hotwire touts its customers’ ability to speak with human agents. Its website highlights the latest ratings from Consumer Reports to showcase “how we stack up against other providers.”

Ramos said Hotwire challenges legacy providers and emerging companies to meet its service level. 

Ramos noted that launching an internet service is now less difficult, but “not all fiber providers are created equal.” He said some companies provide ideal connectivity but lack outstanding customer service and support, and others employ a hybrid network with coax and fiber optic cables.

The company does not outsource its call centers or technicians who live in their service area.

“We don’t take any shortcuts,” Ramos added. “We continue to evolve, we continue to expand our offerings and we continue to challenge ourselves to do better.”

New York City-based Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Ramos said the firm, which has $1.2 trillion in assets under management, challenged Hotwire to grow and expand.

The company now has footholds in Texas, Nevada, Arizona, California, Georgia and the Carolinas. Ramos said Hotwire would have expanded without Blackstone’s investment, but the firm “encouraged us to grow at a faster pace and into more environments … and more vertical. There’s tremendous advantages to having a partner like that.”

“This market has been extremely welcoming,” Ramos said of Tampa Bay. “We look forward to providing more access to technologies, fiber infrastructure and great service. And we’re looking forward to meeting more and more people here over the next couple of years.”