Many long-time customers in Ohio and Kentucky still refer to their internet and phone provider as Cincinnati Bell. That name has deep roots in the region, dating back to the 19th century. But today's customers are more likely to see Altafiber on their bill or website. So, what’s the connection?
Altafiber is the new brand identity adopted by Cincinnati Bell in early 2022. While the name has changed, the company’s services, leadership, and commitment to the community remain consistent. The rebranding reflects a strategic move to emphasize fiber-optic internet offerings and expand beyond the traditional Cincinnati footprint—it’s not just about telephone lines and local service anymore.
This article breaks down the transition from Cincinnati Bell to Altafiber, clarifies what customers can expect, and explains how the company’s footprint and services have evolved. Let’s dive into the details behind this transformation.
Cincinnati Bell began its journey in 1873 as a telegraph provider, firmly establishing itself as a local utility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Just three years after Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone, the company acquired the rights to offer Bell system services in the region. From that early pivot, it built a 20th-century legacy as a specialized regional telecommunications provider serving Greater Cincinnati and surrounding areas in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky.
While national carriers scaled across states, Cincinnati Bell maintained a reputation as a locally rooted but technically ambitious company. It operated with autonomy despite being affiliated with the Bell System. After the 1984 AT&T divestiture, it became one of the few regional Bell companies to remain independent, without being absorbed into a larger telecom conglomerate.
The company's portfolio diversified steadily. In residential markets, it deployed traditional landline telephone services, later adding high-speed DSL internet over copper lines. In parallel, it focused heavily on serving small and mid-sized businesses with PBX phone systems, data transmission, and WAN solutions. Its business division became central during the early 2000s, especially as local companies sought integrated voice and internet services without needing to rely on national chains.
By the early 2010s, Cincinnati Bell's technological ceiling became clear. Its DSL offerings began to lag behind speeds from cable providers. However, its forward investment in fiber-optic infrastructure under the “Fioptics” brand marked a transformational phase. Long before many regions considered fiber deployment as viable infrastructure, Cincinnati Bell had wired large portions of its service footprint with fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) systems.
This approach helped retain customer loyalty within Ohio’s dense urban corridors and parts of northern Kentucky. Customers viewed Cincinnati Bell not only as a utility but as a company that had evolved through every major phase of telecommunication — from switchboards to fiber — without shedding its community-first ethos.
The transformation from Cincinnati Bell to Altafiber began with a public announcement in March 2021. Executives introduced the new name as part of a broader plan to reposition the company for the next phase of telecommunications growth. By early 2022, brand transition efforts appeared across advertising, online platforms, and customer-facing materials. Logo updates, website redesign, and service interface tweaks were rolled out in parallel with strategic communications to stakeholders and existing users.
The decision to pivot away from the Cincinnati Bell name was rooted in technological evolution. While the original brand carried more than 140 years of recognition, particularly in Ohio and Kentucky, “Cincinnati Bell” evoked a legacy of copper phone lines and regional telephony. In contrast, “Altafiber” distinctly positions the company around fiber-optic infrastructure—a segment projected to dominate broadband delivery for decades.
By emphasizing “fiber” in the new name, the company aimed to clearly identify its core product and direction. This clarity helps minimize market confusion, particularly as competitors continue to package slower DSL or cable products under ambiguous branding.
Beyond branding, the change signals alignment with long-term digital transformation goals. Leaders within Altafiber have emphasized partnerships with municipalities pursuing smart city initiatives. The geographically targeted rollout of symmetrical multi-gig fiber speeds supports emerging technologies such as Internet-of-Things (IoT) infrastructure, municipal Wi-Fi backbones, and public safety automation.
Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky each stand as testbeds for these integrations. The rebrand acted as both a visual and strategic catalyst, repositioning the former telecommunications giant as a key digital enabler across the Midwest.
Altafiber, formerly known as Cincinnati Bell, became a portfolio company of Macquarie Infrastructure Partners in 2021. The acquisition, announced in March 2021 and valued at approximately $2.9 billion including debt, positioned Macquarie to take the company private and inject a substantial capital base to accelerate fiber network expansion across the Midwest.
Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, part of Macquarie Asset Management, specializes in long-term investments in infrastructure assets across North America. With a track record of managing over $150 billion in infrastructure globally as of 2023, Macquarie brings both financial scale and operational expertise. The firm’s involvement has allowed Altafiber to fast-track its capital-intensive deployments in fiber-to-the-premise technology, pushing deeper into suburban and rural markets where legacy copper lines still dominate.
As part of the acquisition, Hawaiian Telcom also became a sister company under the same ownership umbrella. Although operating independently, Hawaiian Telcom shares several strategic objectives with Altafiber: increasing broadband access, deploying next-gen fiber systems, and modernizing legacy networks. This alignment under Macquarie's portfolio supports economies of scale, leverages cooperative vendor relationships, and enhances bargaining power in technology procurement and network development.
Strategic corporate ownership not only brought capital—it catalyzed transformation. Backed by infrastructure-minded investors with long time horizons, Altafiber has made aggressive moves into fixed gigabit service expansion, multi-gig enterprise fiber, and regional 5G support infrastructure. Without Macquarie’s ownership structure and funding pipeline, such rapid deployment across territories like Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky would not have scaled at current pace.
Want to see how international infrastructure investment directly shapes the speed of your home internet? Altafiber’s ownership story offers a clear blueprint.
Fiber-optic internet uses strands of glass or plastic fibers, each thinner than a human hair, to transmit data as light signals. This method carries significantly more data at faster speeds and over longer distances than copper-based networks. Unlike cable or DSL, fiber does not degrade over distance, which ensures consistent performance regardless of proximity to the provider’s equipment.
Traditional broadband—delivered via coaxial cables or telephone lines—relies on electrical signals. That approach introduces interference, signal loss, and bandwidth limitations. Fiber bypasses these constraints. For example, while standard cable internet typically offers download speeds up to 1 Gbps, fiber-optic networks like Altafiber's can exceed 2 Gbps for both download and upload.
Upload speed differences are especially stark. Most legacy broadband systems throttle upload speeds to a fraction of download capacity. With fiber, symmetrical speeds—where uploads match downloads—come standard. This makes real-time activities like cloud backups, video conferencing, and livestreaming seamless.
Altafiber’s commitment to expanding fiber infrastructure in the Greater Cincinnati region marks a technical leap from legacy broadband. Homeowners adopting remote workflows and businesses with growing digital needs both benefit from the robust, scalable advantages fiber offers. Upload, download, communicate, and operate without compromise—fiber makes that level of connectivity a standard, not a luxury.
Altafiber, formerly known as Cincinnati Bell, delivers an integrated portfolio of telecommunications and technology services. Residential users, businesses, and enterprise clients all find tailored options across internet, TV, voice, smart home, and enterprise-grade IT solutions.
Altafiber provides fiber-optic internet with speed tiers ranging from 400 Mbps to 2 Gbps for residential customers. The fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure supports symmetrical upload and download speeds, enabling lag-free video conferencing, rapid file uploads, and consistent streaming on multiple devices.
Each plan supports whole-home Wi-Fi through mesh systems, and customers can manage connected devices using the Altafiber Smart Manager app.
TV options center around the Fioptics+ app, which merges live channels, cloud DVR functionality, and on-demand shows within a unified interface. Users can stream on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and other devices, eliminating the need for traditional cable boxes.
Bundles that combine TV and internet reduce monthly costs and simplify billing.
Altafiber offers digital voice solutions with unlimited nationwide calling and a suite of features, including voicemail-to-email, caller ID, and call forwarding. These services operate over a secure VoIP infrastructure, ensuring high-definition call quality across devices.
Customers can integrate Altafiber’s smart home platform into daily routines. Control security cameras, smart lights, thermostats, locks, and motion sensors using a centralized mobile dashboard.
Installation and support are available through certified technicians who tailor setups to the home’s layout and usage needs.
Altafiber delivers scalable business-grade internet with symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps for enterprise clients. Services include:
IT consulting and custom deployment services help organizations align connectivity and infrastructure with growth trajectories.
Altafiber, formerly Cincinnati Bell, currently provides fiber-optic internet and telecommunications services predominantly in Ohio, northern Kentucky, and parts of southeastern Indiana. The company's network infrastructure spans across the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, including high-density urban neighborhoods and a growing number of suburban communities.
As of 2023, Altafiber’s all-fiber network reaches more than 700,000 homes and businesses. The company reports consistent annual growth, both in market penetration and geographic footprint, driven by strategic infrastructure investments and regional demand for ultrafast broadband.
Altafiber has committed to narrowing the digital divide by targeting areas historically underserved by high-speed internet providers. In 2022, Altafiber announced initiatives to bring fiber connectivity to over 400,000 new addresses in its service area over the next five years, focusing primarily on rural and low-income urban communities.
Through partnerships with local governments and leveraging funding from programs like the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), Altafiber has already begun buildouts in Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties. These expansions are reshaping local economies by supporting remote work, online education, and telehealth services.
Altafiber plays a pivotal role in regional broadband initiatives across the Tri-State area. Collaborating with municipal agencies, school districts, and economic development organizations, the company supports efforts to make fiber optics a backbone of community infrastructure.
In 2023, Altafiber joined the Connect NKY broadband consortium, aiming to deliver symmetrical gig-speed internet to over 50,000 homes in northern Kentucky. Simultaneously, they’re contributing expertise to Smart Cincy—a smart city initiative focused on connected infrastructure and digital equity in southwest Ohio.
By combining private capital, public incentives, and long-term planning, Altafiber continues to position fiber internet not just as a utility, but as a catalyst for regional growth and technological inclusion.
Altafiber structures its residential internet packages around different households’ needs for speed and usage. Plans range from basic connectivity to multi-gigabit service. Here are the typical tiers offered:
Monthly pricing (as of early 2024) begins at approximately $44.99 and can exceed $85 per month, depending on the selected package and whether services are bundled. Equipment fees, such as for Altafiber’s advanced Wi-Fi gateways, may add around $10/month, though promotions sometimes waive these fees.
Business customers won’t find off-the-shelf pricing because Altafiber designs enterprise services around specific operational needs. Core services include:
Pricing for commercial service is customized following a consultation and on-site infrastructure evaluation. Small business packages, which may include 500 Mbps fiber, VoIP lines, and support, start near $99.99/month.
New residential customers frequently benefit from limited-time promotions:
These promotions typically require a 12-month commitment. Availability varies by ZIP code and service tier.
Altafiber’s fiber network offers consistent performance with far lower latency than traditional cable services. Unlike shared coaxial networks, fiber connections maintain bandwidth during peak hours. While prices may trend higher than basic cable or DSL, customers report improved reliability and speed consistency—especially in neighborhoods upgraded to FTTH (Fiber to the Home).
For budget-conscious households, Altafiber participates in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible customers with a discount of up to $30/month toward internet service.
Altafiber maintains 24/7 technical support, ensuring residential and business customers can reach a representative anytime. Support channels include live chat, phone, social media, and a dedicated mobile app. The mobile app allows customers to manage accounts, troubleshoot services, and schedule technician visits without placing a call.
Commercial clients receive specialized account management. Altafiber assigns dedicated account representatives to mid-sized and large business accounts, streamlining their access to technical troubleshooting, billing inquiries, and service upgrades. This tiered support model minimizes downtime and accelerates resolution for mission-critical operations.
On Trustpilot, Altafiber currently holds a customer rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars (as of April 2024), with over 1,000 reviews. Google Reviews for Altafiber locations in Cincinnati show ratings ranging between 3.8 and 4.2 stars, depending on the service area. Most customer reviews praise internet reliability and speed consistency, especially after fiber upgrades.
While most feedback trends positive, common complaints include delayed service appointments and occasional billing system errors. For example, some users reported being charged promotional rates incorrectly after the trial period ended. In these cases, Altafiber representatives acknowledged the issue publicly on platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and enacted policy updates to prevent recurrence.
Response times to complaints—on average within 24–48 hours—suggest the company monitors digital channels closely. Rather than issuing templated responses, Altafiber engages with individual cases by offering direct solutions, refunds where applicable, or expedited technician visits.
For customers who relied on Cincinnati Bell for years, the shift to Altafiber marks a noticeable change in branding—but not in service reliability. The core offerings remain in place. Internet, television, and voice services continue to function without interruption or reduction in quality.
Existing customers don't need to adjust their current service plans. Billing structures, technical configurations, and home equipment stay the same. No upgrades or manual transitions are required to maintain connectivity or network performance.
Alongside the updated name comes a suite of refined features. Altafiber rolled out new customer-facing interfaces designed for faster navigation and streamlined access to account details. Both web and mobile platforms reflect a modernized approach, trimming wait times and reducing friction in service management.
The rebranding brought with it updates to communication channels. Customers may notice changes in email addresses, customer service numbers, and the billing address names on payment statements. These changes reflect the new Altafiber identity but don’t affect account status or payment methods already in use.
Auto-pay, online banking setups, and recurring transactions remain valid without requiring action from the account holder, although some banks may label the payee as "Altafiber" instead of Cincinnati Bell going forward.
In essence, the rebrand enhances the user experience while preserving the dependability that long-time Cincinnati Bell customers expect. Altafiber's focus on fiber technology doesn't leave existing users behind—it delivers more, without disruption.
Altafiber didn’t replace Cincinnati Bell—it evolved from it. Every fiber line, service area, and customer-focused initiative stems directly from a 150-year lineage in connectivity. The name has changed, but the foundation remains rooted in community networks, local trust, and technical leadership across Ohio, Kentucky, and beyond.
The rebranding to Altafiber signals more than just a new logo. It reflects a shift toward faster, more reliable internet, scalable enterprise solutions, and a forward-leaning fiber infrastructure built for smart cities. This rebrand aligns with a broader transformation in how homes and businesses access data—no copper lines, no buffering, no lag.
Want to know what this next-gen network means for your household or company? Curious about how fiber internet stacks up against DSL? Or how the acquisition of Hawaiian Telcom integrates into Altafiber’s wider service model?
Explore Altafiber’s Internet and business services in your area or speak with a representative to find out how the power of fiber can transform your connection.
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