Ben Elkins is the CEO of AireBeam and Utah Broadband, leading the expansion of high-speed fiber and fixed wireless internet services in Arizona and Utah. Under his leadership, the company focuses on delivering reliable internet access to rural communities and underserved, high-growth areas. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Ben Elkins to learn more.
Ben Elkins’ Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Elkins said:
“I’ve spent over 20 years in the telecommunications industry, working across sales, operations, business development, and strategy. Before joining AireBeam and Utah Broadband, I started as a sales representative then worked up to Chief Sales Officer and Chief Operations Officer at Voce Telecom and GP Voice. Throughout my career, I’ve always loved building the company up and seeing the growth of our employees. Boston Omaha recruited me in 2022 to oversee AireBeam and then Utah Broadband in 2024. What drives me now is bringing all that experience together to guide AireBeam and Utah Broadband as we expand access to reliable, affordable Internet — especially for communities that need it most. As a small to midsize Internet service provider (ISP), navigating AireBeam and Utah Broadband against fierce competition in certain markets is challenging but also extremely rewarding.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the companies come together? Elkins shared:
“AireBeam has been around since 2004, and Utah Broadband since 2002, so both companies were founded well before I stepped into my current role. Both were acquired by Boston Omaha Broadband after growing their customer bases, AireBeam in 2021 and Utah Broadband in 2022. After the previous president of Utah Broadband retired, I was asked by Boston Omaha to take over both companies after my team and I’s success with AireBeam. I was excited to take the challenge head-on and run both Internet service providers, as I could create an environment with synergy, shared resources and take advantage of each company’s strengths.”
What I admire about Utah Broadband’s and AireBeam’s origins is that both were built to solve a very real problem — a lack of reliable Internet in underserved communities. AireBeam was founded in Arizona with the mission of bringing connectivity to rural areas, while Utah Broadband started in Utah with the same community-first mindset. Utah Broadband has the advantage of a world-class fixed wireless network while providing fiber to specific communities, while AireBeam’s goal is to provide fiber in protected areas throughout Pinal County, Arizona, including modular home parks. Both are set in two totally different markets but have the shared goal of providing service in rural areas. My role as CEO today is to continue that vision — overseeing strategy, growth, and operations, while making sure we never lose sight of what matters most: the customer experience. Unlike other ISP’s, our motto for both companies is that ‘We Care.’ This is shown in the way we go about our day-to-day work, in our ambition to provide high-speed Internet in underserved areas and the positive attitudes of our employees.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the two companies so far? Elkins reflected:
“My favorite memory with AireBeam is watching its growth throughout the few years I’ve been CEO. AireBeam started with hardly any fiber customers, so watching the company develop into one with long-term contracts in the mobile park industry with big players has been a joy. Three of the top five manufactured home companies have agreed to work with AireBeam on providing fiber to the home, and residents, in turn, welcomed AireBeam with open arms.
Another favorite memory of mine is seeing Utah Broadband embrace me as the CEO. Utah Broadband is a very special place with a lot of tenured employees, and the team really opened their workplace and made me feel extremely welcome. I have a very fast-paced management style and demand a strong work ethic, and it has been very cool watching the team adapt and endure the change. My goal is to take all the amazing things that Utah Broadband has in place and add a different perspective to the areas where a fresh set of eyes is needed. I’m extremely thankful for an amazing start!”
Core Products
What are the two companies’ core products and features? Elkins explained:
“Both AireBeam and Utah Broadband provide fiber-to-the-home and fixed wireless Internet services, along with support for residential and commercial customers. Fiber is the gold standard for speed and reliability, and we’ve invested heavily in expanding those networks. At the same time, fixed wireless remains a critical option for reaching areas where fiber isn’t practical yet. AireBeam’s core product is providing fiber to the home, which Utah Broadband focuses on both fiber to the home and Gigwave (what we call our high-speed fixed wireless product) in certain parts of Utah. What sets us apart is not just the infrastructure, but the way we approach service — local support, affordable plans, and the ways we try to create value for the customer so that broadband isn’t an afterthought in new communities. Unlike competitors, every customer truly means something to us, and we try to show that in our marketing, customer service, and even through executives. We’re not just installing networks; we’re helping shape the future of connectivity in our regions.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Elkins acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges we’ve experienced is the amount of competition in the fiber sector. This is due to many companies being backed by private equity firms, which spend millions of dollars putting a huge emphasis on passings instead of prioritizing customer needs in communities. An example of this is in Arizona City, where two different providers built over us despite spending tens of millions of dollars in an area that is loyal to its local ISP, AireBeam. Competition is always welcome, but in a community like Arizona City where loyalty, customer service, and service quality matters, it could unfortunately end up being a waste of resources for these private equities. Lucky for us, despite the option of switching to a different provider, we have loyal customers who value our superior service, pricing, and product. AireBeam was able to overcome this challenge by going back to the basics of what our company is built on—a great product for a fair price and a company who cares for its community like family. Throughout our years of building a good relationship with Arizona City residents, we always try to stay honest and ethical with our all-in pricing, without hiding behind fine print and additional fees like other providers. Staying connected to our community is important to us, and we show that through outreach events, emails, and texts to keep our customers in the loop. I believe our customers in turn appreciate we care about them and don’t view them as just an account number.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Elkins noted:
“Both companies started with wireless technologies that allowed us to reach rural areas faster than traditional wired providers could, which at the time meant providing rural areas with only 5-10 Mbps of Internet. Over time, as fiber became more scalable, we’ve transitioned heavily into fiber-to-the-home. In this day and age, activities and needs have changed over the last 20 years (including remote learning, healthcare, entertainment, and working from home) and demand for higher bandwidth has grown as technology evolves. Today, AireBeam is one of Arizona’s fastest-growing fiber providers, and Utah Broadband has become a recognized leader in Utah for both fiber and fixed wireless. We’ve also embraced network automation, monitoring tools, and new construction techniques that make builds more efficient and resilient. In fact, our service is very scalable, future-forward, and we are built to go up to 10 Gig if needed for residents. Technology is always evolving, but our north star has been the same — use the best tools available to connect people who otherwise might be left behind.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the companies’ most significant milestones? Elkins cited:
“A significant milestone for AireBeam is being able to ‘fiber up’ Arizona City and Florence, Arizona. Additionally, we have completed multiple large-scale fiber builds across modular home communities in Pinal, Pima, and Maricopa counties in Arizona due to partnerships with modular home parks. From the time I started as CEO over four years ago, we have grown by over 975%. Last year, AireBeam was recognized as one of the “Best Internet Providers in Arizona” by CNET, and was recently named to Broadband Communities’ top list of Internet service providers.
A big milestone for Utah Broadband is, despite the competitive landscape, staying in business for over 20 years and providing fiber to the home to both the Wasatch front and Wasatch back in Utah. Currently, we have tens of thousands of customers and are growing by being selective in which communities we invest in. Last fall, Utah Broadband was recognized as the “#1 ISP in Park City” by The Park Record and has been awarded three milestone grants and projects over the last year. Utah Broadband has been awarded a $23 million ReConnect grant, and construction will start in Q4 of 2026 through Q1 of 2027, which will bring fiber-to-the-home service to several different counties throughout Utah. Utah Broadband also participated in BEAD funding and will be deploying fiber and fixed wireless throughout four counties in Utah.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Elkins highlighted:
“One example I love comes from Utah Broadband, where we partnered with a school district that was struggling to support remote learning during the pandemic. We worked quickly to expand service, and the feedback from parents and teachers was incredible — suddenly students had the tools they needed to stay connected to their classrooms. Some time ago, AireBeam went into a large park in Mesa that was struggling with having reliable Internet. It was impossible for many residents to even stream television. Within its first year of service, over 60% of the park is now signed with AireBeam’s fiber Internet product. We achieved this by informing residents about the difference fiber makes, partnering with the computer club on training residents and making it as easy as possible to make the switch. Our installers worked tirelessly in helping set up TV’s, printers and more for those who are technologically challenged. All of this was accomplished within the first 12 months.”
Funding/Revenue
Are you able to discuss funding and/or revenue metrics? Elkins revealed:
“I can say that both companies are on strong financial footing and have experienced consistent growth year over year. AireBeam has increased their fiber subscriber base by over 925% since I joined. Most of our growth centers around rural towns and mobile home expansion. Utah Broadband has been growing but at a much more modest pace. We are extremely engaged with government grants and different communities to expand our Gigwave & fiber business. Being part of Boston Omaha Broadband has provided AireBeam with additional capital resources that allow us to expand aggressively while maintaining financial discipline. One thing that sets both companies apart is that we are extremely selective at where we deploy capital. Our leadership at Boston Omaha does an amazing job helping us navigate through this process. Boston Omaha allows us to keep our small-town feel for our customers but gives us the capital to grow like we are a large player. Both AireBeam and Utah Broadband are growing sustainably, which gives us confidence in our long-term outlook.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size are the companies pursuing? Elkin assessed:
“In Arizona and Utah alone, there are hundreds of thousands of households and businesses that need better connectivity, whether through fiber or fixed wireless. When you consider the broader U.S. market, especially rural and underserved areas, the opportunity is enormous. The federal government’s BEAD program alone is directing $42 billion into broadband infrastructure, and Utah Broadband is taking an aggressive stance and is well-positioned in the state of Utah. AireBeam will continue to serve the underserved communities in Arizona that fit our profile, including the modular home sector, by staying precise and particular on what projects we take on. Our TAM isn’t just about numbers, though — it’s about people and communities who deserve better Internet access, and we’re focused on reaching as many as possible.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the companies from their competition? Elkin affirmed:
“Two things: local focus and customer-first service. AireBeam and Utah Broadband aren’t trying to be everything to everyone nationwide. We know our markets deeply, we live and work in these communities, and we build relationships with customers, developers, and municipalities. Second, our customer service philosophy is different. We don’t put people through endless phone trees or leave them hanging for days — we answer the phone, we show up, and we take care of the problem. In an industry where frustration with providers is common, that makes a big difference. We have tens of thousands of customers, not millions, and we keep track of every single one. We’re blessed to have the capital for a smaller-run company, and we like to show customers we care, through our 24/7 support and field techs that go above and beyond for installations.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the companies’ future goals? Elkins emphasized:
“Our goal is to keep expanding fiber deeper into both Arizona and Utah, while continuing to use fixed wireless where it makes sense to bridge gaps quickly. AireBeam will continue growing in modular home communities, while Utah Broadband will connect more rural areas of Utah. We’re also focused on supporting the growth of new residential developments by making broadband a built-in utility from day one by partnering with builders and developers as a key strategy. Looking longer term, we want to be recognized not just as providers of fast Internet, but as trusted partners who helped close the digital divide in our regions. That means continuing to innovate, invest, and put the customer first.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Elkins concluded:
“I’d just emphasize how important broadband is to the future of our communities. It’s not just about streaming movies or gaming; it’s about education, healthcare, small business growth, and staying connected to loved ones. At AireBeam and Utah Broadband, we take that responsibility seriously. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we’re even more excited about what’s ahead as we keep expanding access and supporting the people we serve.
Furthermore, we hope to be the best choice when it comes to providing Internet, not your only choice. I want to stress how proud I am of our product and being able to provide it to customers at a fair price with exceptionally good customer service and care. Even as a smaller company, I’m happy we’re able to provide 24/7 local support, which is starkly different from competitors. As CEO, it’s rare for people in my position to make an appearance, especially in the Internet industry, but I very much enjoy attending local events and outreach because I’m able to interact with our customers directly.
Finally, even though we demand a lot of our employees, they are excited to see the hard work pay off through its growth and our success stories. Fortunate to have great talent that cares.”
