Ritter Communications unveils Bentonville mural

Jonesboro-based telecommunications company Ritter Communications recently unveiled a new mural decorating the company’s Bentonville Fiber Optic Shelter, northeast of Southwest I Street and Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard.

Artist Susan Idlet of Fayetteville created the “Fiber is the Future” design for the 12-foot-long, 8-foot-wide and 9-foot-tall building. According to the company, Ritter Communications paid Idlet $2,000 for the artwork.

“Ritter Communications is proud to support those who pursue a positive, lasting impact in the communities we serve,” said CEO Heath Simpson. “The local artists in Bentonville have done amazing work to make the city a beautiful place to call home. We’re glad to have played a small part in this effort.”

Idlet primarily uses Prismacolor pencils and paper to produce her artwork, often described as surrealistic folk art.

“I was so excited to be chosen to cover the Ritter Communications utility building in Bentonville,” Idlet said. “They asked me to focus on connections and glowing, dynamic images came to me in the form of a landscape, grounded in colorful, insulated fibers. I’m proud of the way it turned out.”

In 2021, Ritter Communications completed a $28 million expansion to bring 100% fiber internet to businesses. It recently expanded its RightFiber service to area neighborhoods. RightFiber offers speeds of up to 5 gigabits.