History
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) was founded in 1902, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Then called Farmers Mutual Telephone System, the goal was to bring telephone service found in towns to the countryside. This is still important to Shentel today even though those humble beginnings are far behind us.
Today, Shentel is a diversified telecommunications company providing internet and data services, local exchange telephone services, video, long distance services, and leased tower facilities through a growing family of brands.
Under the Glo Fiber brand, Shentel offers fiber optic broadband services to business and residential customers.
Under the legacy Shentel brand, Shentel offers video, data and regulated and unregulated voice services through the cable network, as well as DSL internet access in some areas.
Under the Beam Internet brand, Shentel offers fixed wireless internet service using existing cell towers in the network.
Where once Shentel only was available to customers in Shenandoah County, the company offers varying services in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Kentucky.
2024
- Shentel acquires Horizon Telcom in Ohio.
- Glo Fiber named Fiber Provider of the Year in Cablefax’s Top Ops Awards
2023
- Glo Fiber launches 5 Gig fiber internet service.
2021
- Glo Fiber launches fiber-to-the-home service in the cities of Roanoke, Salem and Lynchburg, VA.
- Sells wireless business with approximately 1.1 million subscribers to T-Mobile for $1.95 billion.
2020
- Shentel launches fixed wireless broadband service, Beam Internet, to serve those farther off the beaten path.
- Glo Fiber launches service in Staunton, Front Royal and Winchester, VA.
2019
- Shentel launches Glo Fiber, a fiber to the home internet service, in Harrisonburg, VA offering speeds up to 2G.
- Shentel acquires Big Sandy Broadband in Eastern KY.
- Shentel launches 1G internet services across Virginia cable markets.
2016
- Shentel purchases Colane Cable TV in southwestern West Virginia.
- Completes acquisition of nTelos, becomes sixth largest public wireless company in the United States.
2010
- Shentel acquires Jet Broadband, cable systems in southern Virginia and West Virginia.
- Shentel acquires two small cable systems in Maryland and West Virginia from Suddenlink.
2008
- Shentel acquires Rapid Communications.
1998
- Shentel partners with Sprint and becomes the first Sprint PCS Affiliate.
1994
- Internet service is made available.
1990
- Shenandoah Cellular launched and became the first company in the state of Virginia to offer cellular service to a rural area.
1981
- Shenandoah Telephone Company and Shenandoah Cable Television Company become subsidiaries of new holding company - Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel).
1980
- Shenandoah Telephone Company introduces Cable TV service.
1960
- Name changes to Shenandoah Telephone Company.
1902
- Farmers Mutual Telephone System (FMTS) incorporated as mutual company to serve customers—all of whom owned stock in the business.
