About Nextera

Nextera Communications is a privately held Minnesota-based LLC telecommunications company providing carrier-grade voice, data and Internet solutions to small, mid-sized and enterprise businesses across the state of Minnesota. Nextera provides converged Internet Protocol (IP) network services that combine voice, Internet access and private data networking delivered through a mix of wireless, fiber-based Ethernet and Ethernet over Copper (EoC).

A History of Innovation, Collaboration and Growth

Founded in 2005 as a “Next Era” IP (Internet Protocol) services company, Nextera has deployed a network using the latest in managed IP (Internet Protocol) based technologies to converge voice, internet, data and multimedia (video) services onto a single network.

Nextera has expanded with several acquisitions, starting with the 2007 asset acquisition of Small Business Networks located in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area. This acquisition expanded Nextera’s reach to small businesses in the Twin Cities area. Nextera Communications’ Minnetonka office was established to provide services to clients and grow service delivery in the area.

In 2008, Nextera Communications purchased StoneBridge Wireless Inc., an Eden Prairie, Minnesota Internet business. In doing so, they acquired the StoneBridge Wireless digital network with over 60 tower sites, currently serving Twin Cities business customers from River Falls, Wisconsin to Monticello, Minnesota.

Nextera, a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), integrated the StoneBridge Wireless network, a digital fiber and wired network, which is anchored by all IP softswitch technology with hubs in Duluth, Brainerd, St.Cloud, Little Falls, and the Twin Cities. Nextera expanded the acquired wireless network by extending the coverage, adding voice capability, adding capacity and enhancing the network’s managed services delivery infrastructure. With this acquisition, Nextera Communications established its ownership of the largest fixed wireless business network in Minnesota.

Nextera Communications expanded again in 2011 with the purchase of CitiLink Communications, an Apple Valley based telecommunications company. (Citilink Communications built the first fully voice over wireless (WiMax) network in Minnesota in 2009).

In 2012, Nextera Communications purchased the assets of Minneapolis-based OneNet USA, marking the Nextera’s telecommunications company’s fourth business acquisition in four years. The new customers, mostly in the Twin Cities area, gained direct access to Nextera’s carrier-grade switching and network platform, providing business-class products and services including hosted voice and fixed wireless phone and Internet. Customers also gained access to MyNextera, a Web portal where they can configure their phone services, view invoices, establish payment types and pay bills online, quickly and conveniently.

Experienced, Award-Winning Leadership

Greg Arvig, Nextera Communications Founder and CEO, started working in the telecommunications industry over 30 years, beginning his career as an engineer and operations manager for Arvig Telephone and Bridgewater Telephone. Arvig founded US Link, a regional long distance company sold to TDS telecom in 1986. He also created InfoTel, the first Minnesota CLEC, a company sold to Integra Telecom.

A graduate of Texas A&M University with a Telecommunications Engineering degree, Greg Arvig won the Aggie Award 100 two consecutive years in a row (2011, 2012). The award honors the world’s fastest-growing companies owned and operated by former Texas A&M students.

Next Generation Technology: Products and Services

Nextera Communications offers a diverse platform of telecommunications products. These include IP and traditional phone services as well as Internet and data services. Voice offerings include Hosted Voice, WiMax (Wireless over Internet), SIP Trunking, T-1, Business Lines, and Anywhere VoIP. Data offerings include DIA (Dedicated Internet Access), point-to-point transport, MPLS VPN networking, BGP, Load Balancing and Failover, Email and Web Hosting, plus Co-Location opportunities. Nextera owns the largest Fixed Wireless (1) network within Minnesota in addition to other network delivery options such as fiber-based Ethernet and Ethernet over Copper (EoC).

Locations Across Minnesota

Nextera Communications is headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, with additional offices in Minnetonka (Minneapolis-St. Paul Great Metro Area), Duluth and St. Cloud.

References

1. Alexander, Steve (December 11, 2011). "Selling Wireless Internet to a Wired Business World". http://www.startribune.com/business/135353888.html

2. Hankey, Matthew (December 20, 2013). "Minnetonka Business Receives Award". http://sailor.mnsun.com/2013/12/20/minnetonka-business-receives-award

3. Pioneer Press (February 12, 2008). "Nextera Acquires Stonebridge Assets”. http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_8234358

4. Borg, Erik (February 11, 2008). "Nextera Buys Minnesota Wireless Company". http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/02/11/daily9.html

5. Kriewald, Lesley (July 22, 2009). "Texas A&M Engineering Entrepeneurs Among Aggie 100". http://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2012/10/29/texas-am-engineering-entrepr... Engineering Texas A&M University.

6. Shukla, Anuradha (August 10, 2009). "Citilink Builds WiMAX Broadband Network in Minnesota”. http://www.mobilitytechzone.com/topics/4g-wirelessevolution/articles/616...

7. Richardson, Renee (October 28, 2007). "Nextera Tackles New Phone Frontier". https://nextera.net/sites/default/files/Dispatch_Article.pdf

8. Lightwave Staff (April 24, 2014) "Nextera Offers Fiber to Minnesota Businesses". http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2014/04/nextera-communications-o...