TDS Launches Bend Fiber Upgrade Project

TDS Telecommunications will upgrade services to about 30,000 addresses across Bend, Oregon, in multiple phases.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Telecommunications

Photograph of a freshly dug utility trench beside a pale street with a coil of orange fiber cable, ponderosa pines and snowy peaks in the background. — TDS Telecommunications will upgrade fiber service to about 30,000 addresses across Bend, Oregon, beginning with a multimillion-dollar first phase. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

TDS Telecommunications announced the Bend Fiber Upgrades, a multi-phase fiber infrastructure project covering about 30,000 addresses across Bend, Oregon. The company says it is investing millions of dollars in the first phase.

Why it matters

The upgrade expands high-speed fiber access for residents and businesses in Bend and the wider Central Oregon region. Phased construction means service improvements will reach neighborhoods over time rather than all at once.

The first phase will lay more than 200 miles of fiber delivering symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gigabits, with 10 Gigabit dedicated connections available for businesses. The full project cost and the schedule for later phases have not been disclosed.

The players

TDS Telecommunications

TDS Telecommunications LLC is a family-operated telecommunications company that has served the region since 2014, offering fiber internet, business connections, and TDS Mobile 5G service.

The details

Crews will lay fiber using a combination of aerial and underground methods, working primarily within the public right-of-way, including streets, alleys, and utility easements. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks and will be completed in phases throughout Bend.

October 29, 2026: TDS announced the Bend Fiber Upgrades investment.
Coming weeks after the announcement: construction is expected to begin.

The Tech Race

The Bend project follows the symmetrical multi-gigabit fiber model that has become the competitive standard for broadband providers seeking to match cable networks on upload speeds. It positions TDS to compete for residential and business customers in Central Oregon against incumbent cable and wireless providers.

Bend residents and businesses in the upgrade zones will gain access to symmetrical fiber speeds up to 8 Gigabits as crews progress through each phase. Households and companies should check TDS service availability at their address as construction reaches their neighborhood.

The takeaway

Residents planning to upgrade their home or business internet should watch for construction in their area and compare fiber plans once service reaches their address.