Fed Up With Comcast, Two Men Built Their Own Fiber ISP
▼ Summary
– Samuel Herman and Alexander Baciu, frustrated with Comcast’s poor service, launched their own fiber ISP called Prime-One in Saline, Michigan.
– Herman experienced slow upload speeds and frequent service issues with Comcast, especially in a household of 10 people with high internet demands.
– After failing to find a competing fiber ISP in his area, Herman paid Comcast $120/month for gigabit service but remained dissatisfied.
– Herman and Baciu leveraged their construction industry experience to shift their business toward building ISP networks before starting Prime-One.
– Prime-One offers gigabit fiber with unlimited data for $80/month, directly competing with Comcast in their neighborhood.
Frustrated with unreliable internet service, two Michigan residents took matters into their own hands by launching a fiber-optic ISP to challenge Comcast in their community. Samuel Herman and Alexander Baciu, both from Saline, Michigan, grew tired of dealing with slow upload speeds, frequent outages, and high prices from their former provider. Their personal experiences with subpar service inspired them to create Prime-One, a local fiber internet company offering faster, more affordable alternatives.
Herman, now 25, recalls the struggles of sharing a household with nine other family members, all relying on Comcast’s inconsistent connection. “We’d constantly call customer support, only to get temporary fixes that barely lasted a week,” he said. After moving into his own home in 2021, he searched for better options but found no fiber providers willing to compete directly with Comcast in his area.
With a background in construction, working for his father’s company, which built infrastructure for ISPs, Herman saw an opportunity. He partnered with Baciu, his brother-in-law and a fellow Comcast critic, to shift their expertise toward creating their own network. Prime-One now offers gigabit fiber internet for $80 a month, with no data caps, a stark contrast to Comcast’s pricing and limitations.
The duo’s hands-on experience in ISP construction gave them an edge. Herman transitioned his father’s business from basic drilling to full-scale ISP contracting, while Baciu oversaw the technical buildout. Their deep industry knowledge allowed them to bypass many of the hurdles new providers face.
Though still in its early stages, Prime-One has already begun servicing homes in Saline, with plans to expand further. For Herman and Baciu, this venture isn’t just about business, it’s about proving that better, more reliable internet is possible when companies prioritize customers over profits.
(Source: Ars Technica)
