Supplier Midco announced on Thursday that after more than 200 miles of fiber optics were activated earlier this month, residents of Yili and International Falls can now use fiber optic internet.
Paige Pearson Myer, Midco's director of corporate communications, said that full redundancy—or the use of multiple sources in the event of a failure of one source—has not yet been fully implemented. The expansion to northern Minnesota was funded by a Midco Capital investment of US$3.75 million.
Midco will install fiber to the house (directly to the home) in Ely and Winton in early 2022, a cable provider in Sioux Falls, South Dakota said. When the modem is installed in a home or business, the fiber optic network will allow up to 5 gigabits per second. These connections can eventually be upgraded to 10 Gbps.
Erie Mayor Chuck Novak said in a press release: “Improving our citizens’ access to high-speed, reliable Internet has always been a priority for Erie.” “Midco will serve our community and surrounding communities. Bringing speed, redundancy and reliability, this is a game changer for our residents, students and businesses."
Tower, Soudan and Babbitt will see similar construction activities in 2023, including all-fiber-to-premises network upgrades.
St. Louis County Commissioner Paul McDonald, a resident of Erie on behalf of School District 4, said broadband access will provide a level playing field for regional businesses and students, and he is encouraged by the progress in enabling all county residents to obtain high-quality broadband.
"For many people in rural America, broadband is like magic," McDonald said. "The economic recovery started with broadband expansion. This Midco project is good news for residents of Ely and Winton. In the near future, Babbitt, Tower and Soudan projects are also on the horizon, and we are starting to see progress."
The county commissioners expressed their commitment to broadband at a seminar last week.
International Falls, Ranier and Littlefork are also expected to see faster data speeds. This summer, all three communities will have access to Midco Gig, Midco's fastest internet plan, allowing downloads of up to 1 Gbps and uploads of 20 Mbit/s.
DFL-International Falls Congressman Rob Ecklund said in a press release that broadband will help conduct business, educate students, provide medical services, and allow community members to fully participate in digital life.
"COVID-19 has accelerated our reliance on high-speed Internet access, and although we have made progress in connecting all of Minnesota in recent years, the needs of many rural areas are still unmet," Eklund said.
Pearson Myer said that other homes and communities along the fiber optic line may have the opportunity to connect to broadband services in the future.
"The broadband expansion and investment that Midco brings is vital to northern Minnesota," I-Cook Senator Tom Buck said in a press release. "While the pandemic continues to affect learning, economic growth, healthcare, and household needs, investment in robust infrastructure systems such as these is critical to addressing the connectivity gap that still exists in our state."