Flume Internet

Flume Internet is an internet service provider that delivers fiber-to-the-home broadband by activating existing but unused ("dark") fiber capacity in cities rather than building new networks end to end. The company states that the infrastructure for gigabit service often already exists underground or on poles, and that most cities have 10-15 unused fibers for every residential building; it works with municipalities, wholesale providers and asset owners to light that capacity. Flume argues fiber-to-the-home penetration in the US is low, citing figures of roughly 8-9% of homes with a true fiber option.

The company sells to three segments: residential subscribers, multifamily property owners and managers, and enterprise customers. Advertised residential plans include 500 Mb/s at $30 per month, 1 Gb/s at $50 per month and 2 Gb/s at $65 per month, all with unlimited data, free modem and router, and free installation; enterprise tiers are 2 Gb/s at $800 per month and 10 Gb/s at $1,500 per month with an enterprise Wi-Fi system, telemetry monitoring, SLA commitments and Slack integration. Connections are symmetrical. Support is provided by phone, text, chat and email, alongside an online FAQ and account portal for billing and plan upgrades.

Flume also pursues digital-equity work in subsidized and affordable housing. Its anchor customer in New York was the New York City Housing Authority, with homes connected through the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, and in December 2024 New York State named Flume the first recipient of awards under its Affordable Housing Connectivity Program, part of the state's ConnectALL initiative.

Business model

Flume operates as a facilities-based ISP using an asset-light model: instead of constructing full networks, it leases or acquires access to unused fiber from municipalities, wholesale providers and infrastructure owners and adds its own compact edge data center equipment, allowing thousands of gigabit subscribers to be served from a single rack. It states an aim to control the packet path from the consumer to the data center rather than buying or reselling last-mile traffic, and markets to property owners on the basis of increased net operating income without management burden. Public grant funding supports build-out in affordable housing, where Flume says it can install fiber service at no cost to New York property owners.

Recurring monthly subscription fees for internet service, priced by speed tier for residential subscribers ($30 for 500 Mb/s, $50 for 1 Gb/s, $65 for 2 Gb/s) and enterprise customers ($800 for 2 Gb/s, $1,500 for 10 Gb/s), with unlimited data and no equipment or installation charges. In subsidized programs, discounted tiers ($10/month for 100/20 Mbps, $15/month for 200/200 Mbps, $30/month for gigabit) are supported by state grant funding, with rates locked through 2034.

Traction

Flume launched in 2020 and reports growth to 23 markets nationwide, with published availability counts including 87,000+ units and 62,120 units in its largest listed markets and additional markets slated for 2026 and 2027. In May 2022 the company said service was available in thousands of homes with a plan to reach more than 20,000 homes by the end of that year. In December 2024 it was awarded more than $13.1 million across three New York State grants covering 178 properties, 780 buildings and 14,167 units, with service to be available to all households by the end of 2026.

Latest developments

In December 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the first awards under the state's Affordable Housing Connectivity Program, all to Flume Internet: $4,573,875 for 88 properties in the Bronx and New York counties, $3,930,473 for 51 properties in the Rochester metro area, and $4,678,197 for 39 properties in the Buffalo metro area, totaling more than $13.1 million to reach 14,167 lower-income households at $10, $15 and $30 monthly rates locked through 2034. Flume will construct or acquire roughly 39 miles of fiber across the three markets and use fixed wireless to extend service to buildings, with completion by the end of 2026. The company's own campaign page describes $16 million in New York State grant funding and offers no-cost installation to New York multifamily property owners.