New Houston Report Shows Fiber Internet has Become Essential Infrastructure for Economic Growth

 Study from Ezee Fiber finds fiber is driving faster internet speeds, adding $1.6 billion in home value, creating jobs, and powering critical assets like NASA's Johnson Space Center

HOUSTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new independent study finds that fiber broadband has become essential infrastructure for Houston's continued economic growth, supporting faster connectivity, increased home values, job creation, and the digital systems relied upon by the region's energy, healthcare, technology and aerospace sectors. The report, "Fueling Houston's Growth with Fiber", combines national economic research with Houston-specific data to quantify broadband's impact across Houston's economy, housing market, workforce, health outcomes and innovation ecosystem.

"This report puts a number on something we see every day in Houston: fiber has become core infrastructure here, not just an amenity," said Suzy Winger, SVP and General Manager, Texas Region, Ezee Fiber. "For Houston to continue to grow, so does the need for reliable, high-capacity connectivity. We're proud to be investing in the networks that support job creation, enable innovation and create lasting value for residents and businesses."

The report shows that Houston is making significant progress in expanding access to next-generation broadband for residents and businesses. In 2022, only 75% of Harris County had access to a fiber broadband provider. By late 2025, that number surged to 94%, reflecting substantial investment in network infrastructure across the region.

Key Findings from the Report:

• A Billion-Dollar "Fiber Premium" for Homeowners: Fiber availability has contributed an estimated $1.6 billion in aggregate home value to single-family homes sold across Houston since 2020, representing roughly $275 million annually. Expanding fiber access toward full coverage by 2029 could generate more than $2.4 billion in additional property value.
• Speeds Nearly Tripled: Between December 2022 and December 2025, median download speeds in Harris County climbed from about 80 megabytes per second (Mbps) to more than 280 Mbps, compared to the national average median download internet speed of 308.11 Mbps, as fiber deployment accelerated across the region.
• Measurable Job Growth: Fiber infrastructure is estimated to have contributed to over 2,000 jobs gained in Houston between 2021 and 2024. Reaching full population deployment by 2029 is projected to generate several hundred additional jobs.
• Stronger Education and Small Businesses: Communities with fiber internet access see measurable benefits in both education and economic growth. Students in fiber-served areas consistently perform better on standardized tests, with math and reading scores increasing by 2.3% and 1.1%, while communities with median download speeds of 250 Mbps are more likely to generate new small businesses than those with speeds of only 100 Mbps.

Beyond residential benefits, the report highlights fiber as the foundational infrastructure underpinning Houston's economic powerhouse sectors. Fiber internet provides connectivity for NASA's Johnson Space Center and companies like Axiom Space and Intuitive Machines. It has also supported Eli Lilly's $6.5 billion manufacturing investment, the energy sector's reliance on fiber for SCADA and smart grid operations across Houston's 4,200-plus energy firms.

To view the full published report commissioned by Ezee Fiber and examine the comprehensive metrics, go to ezeefiber.com/newsroom.

About Ezee Fiber:

Ezee Fiber is a rapidly growing fiber internet company delivering premium multi-gig service to residential, business, and government customers over a 100% fiber-optic network—at exceptional value. The company's carrier-grade infrastructure spans Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Oregon, Michigan and Washington, supported by local teams who live and work in the communities they serve. Ezee Fiber's industry-leading speeds, award-winning customer service, and transparent pricing model set the company apart. Learn more at www.ezeefiber.com.

SOURCE Ezee Fiber