The Twin Ports could soon have another option for high-speed fiber internet service.
ImOn Communications, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announced plans to expand its fiber network to Duluth and Superior.
The company plans to invest about $66 million — $16 million in Superior and $50 million in Duluth, said Paige Ochoa, marketing communications strategist with ImOn Communications.
The plan includes bringing fiber internet service to about 15,000 addresses in Superior and 50,000 addresses in Duluth. Fiber-based phone service will also be available.
“As technology advances, internet infrastructure must keep pace,” Patrice Carroll, ImOn president and CEO, said in a statement. “For too long, the Great Lakes region has been served by outdated internet technology that can’t meet the demands of modern households and businesses. ImOn’s 100% fiber Internet network will deliver the speed, capacity, and reliability the Superior and Duluth communities need to stay connected, not only in today’s world, but for years to come.”
The new fiber network will provide internet upload and download speeds up to 5 gigabits per second to homes and 10 Gbps for businesses.
Construction in both cities will begin when weather conditions are favorable, likely in May, according to Ochoa.
The city of Superior has already started to build a fiber network, with the second phase of construction expected to get underway this spring. The network currently runs past about 1,100 addresses in the university to Tower Avenue area and in North End. Another 1,100 addresses north of the railroad tracks near North Eighth Street are included in the second phase.
“Based on our construction timeline, we are aiming to complete Superior by the end of 2026 and Duluth by the end of 2027,” Ochoa said.
The network will be a combination of aerial and underground fiber cable, depending on the terrain, Ochoa said. She said the majority of Superior’s network will be underground, while Duluth’s network will be more mixed.
The ImOn team will communicate with residents when work begins in their area, Ochoa said. Information is also available at imon.net.
Prices will vary based on internet speeds, such as $58.50 per month for 500 megabits per second to $88.50 per month for 2 Gbps, Ochoa said.
ImOn Communications was founded in 2007 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and expanded to serve seven metro areas in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. The Twin Ports project marks the eighth metro area and the first in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
“While we are initially focusing on building out Duluth and Superior, we are exploring the possibility of bringing the service to surrounding communities like Hermantown and Proctor in the future,” Ochoa said.
Source: https://www.superiortelegram.com/business/iowa-company-to-build-fiber-network-in-the-twin-ports
