Latest news with #Midco
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Midco to acquire SCI Broadband to reach more Minnesota customers
Midco, one of Sioux Falls' internet service providers, has signed an agreement to acquire Minnesota ISP Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) Broadband, according to a June 3 news release. The acquisition will 'help Midco serve more customers in Minnesota and achieve its Fiber Forward goal, a $500 million investment launched in July 2021 to deliver 10 Gig internet speeds to homes and businesses in the Upper Midwest, the release states. Founded in 1984 by Ron Savage, SCI Broadband currently serves nearly 12,000 data customers across central, eastern and northeastern Minnesota. SCI is projected to reach 28,000 passings by the end of the year. 'I have known Ron and SCI for many years. In fact, we did business with them 25 years ago when we sold a couple small systems in the Brainerd Lakes area to SCI,' said Midco Chair and CEO Pat McAdaragh. 'Ron and his team have built a great company, and we look forward to achieving Ron's vision under the Midco name.' More: Midco announces $500 million upgrade to 10G fiber network, creating 'Ferrari of service' in region Savage, SCI's president and founder, said he sees the deal as the right move to support future growth. 'Over the last few years, I've been debating SCI's future. With our large-scale fiber expansion project nearing completion, I want SCI to continue to grow its footprint and ability to serve customers,' Savage said. 'I've decided the best path forward is to sell it to a like-minded company, and I found that in Midco.' The acquisition is expected to close on Oct. 1, pending regulatory approvals. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Midco to acquire Savage Communications Inc. (SCI) Broadband to serve more customers in Minnesota
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Midco project in Jamestown area about 60% complete
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. JAMESTOWN — Midcontinent Communications is about 60% complete with its project to connect fiber-optic lines in Jamestown, according to Cole Mack, vice president of construction and field engineering. He said about 4,800 lots are connected and over 3,300 lots remain for work. Mack said Midco's project should be complete this year. Midco was granted a franchise agreement in 2021 with the city of Jamestown to construct, maintain and operate a telecommunication system for use in the city. Midco offers internet services, home phone and a variety of cable and streaming options. So far, most of northeast Jamestown is connected as well as parts of southwest Jamestown. Midco is working in northwest Jamestown and has parts of southeast Jamestown left to connect. "Now the overhead portion kind of throughout the core of town will all get built throughout the next few months,' Mack said. "Then we'll have our underground construction crews starting up here hopefully soon when the ground freezes or unthaws a little bit." Homeowners will receive mailers regarding construction activity and when new services are available once an area is launched, Rhonda Erickson, senior community relations manager and executive director of the Midco Foundation. "They may see stuff on social media that's a little bit more targeted to them," she said. To view information on Midco's construction process and launch schedules, visit . Erickson said Midco is a "force for good" and has multiple ways it can help communities. Midco does sponsorships and also has a foundation where nonprofit organizations can apply for small grants. "They are making a difference," she said. The Midco Foundation awarded more than $117,000 to 96 nonprofits, schools and government organizations across the Midwest in spring 2024, according to its website. Erickson said Midco Foundation's board meets twice a year and reviews the grant applications. She said the application window for spring is closed but will open again in July and be reviewed in October. To apply for a grant through the Midco Foundation, visit , search for "foundation" in the search bar, click the "foundation link" and hit the "apply now" button under "Apply for Grant Funding." Midco also did sponsorships for the Jamestown Kite Festival, This Putt's for U golf tournament, a basketball doubleheader at University of Jamestown in January ,a basketball game at Jamestown High School in February and sponsored a Christmas program at the North American Bison Discovery Center. "We do want to contribute back to our communities," she said. "We have staff that live in those communities too, and so we want to definitely show support to our team members as well." She said being involved in the community gives Midco staff an opportunity to get to know Jamestown and its businesses and residents. "When we're at the kite festival, you know, we were meeting several 100 people on a single day, and that's it," she said. "There are a lot of opportunities for that, and it just feels good for all of us to talk to them." Mack agreed. "It's common with wherever we are in a footprint, our teams are both there to support, but then also engaged and involved in those events as well," he said.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Midco Internet Review: Plans, Pricing and Availability Compared
Midcontinent Communications, or Midco, is a unique internet provider in that it offers cable, fiber and fixed wireless internet connections. This Midwestern internet provider offers a contract-free service, unlimited data and fast and reliable speeds. However, speeds will vary depending on the available connection type at your address. Fixed wireless has the slowest max speed, around 100 megabits per second. It's fiber internet is also steadily expanding and boasts the fastest speeds, though its cable service is no slouch. However, as with any internet provider, Midco is far from perfect. Midco offers one of the most competitively priced starting rates, yet, for most plans, you only get to keep those prices for six months. This is usually not the norm, considering that most ISPs' promo pricing period ends after a year. However, Midco offers high-speed internet and many selections to choose from, making this regional provider stand out. Let's dive into the details. Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Midco offers a total of eight plans, including its fixed wireless option. However, what drew my attention was its cable and fiber plan selections, which are among the most I've seen from a regional provider, with speeds ranging from 125 to 5,000Mbps. Those on Midco's cable network can decide between four plans with max speeds up to 2,000Mbps. The Internet 2 Gig plan boasts upload speeds of 350Mbps, that's impressive considering that most cable ISPs offer upload speeds that top out at 35Mbps. Midco presents multiple plans to choose from, but there's a noticeable jump in speed between each plan and the next, typically 250Mbps, to make it easier to find the right plan for your needs. Consider what you use the internet for and how many devices and users will be on your network to narrow down the best speed tier for your home" target="_self. Those fiber plans certainly come with impressive speeds, however, if you want a high-speed plan and would prefer to keep your bill under $100 a month, I would recommend Midco's Internet 500 plan. The plan offers ample speed for general household use and will cost about $69 per month (not including taxes and fees), jumping to $79 after six months. Regardless of the plan you choose, Midco's pricing is as fair as any, even after the standard rates go into effect after six months. With the Wireless Home Internet plan, you get to keep your competitive price of $39 per month for longer. After a year, your rate will increase to $59, which is still pretty decent for relatively fast speeds, up to 100Mbps. Aside from speeds and pricing, what else can you expect from Midco? Here's everything to know about the ISP before signing up. Appropriately named, Midcontinent Communications is situated in the Midwest region of the US, with headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Midco offers internet service in parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and, to a lesser extent, Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin. Popular Midco service areas include: Aberdeen, South Dakota Bemidji, Minnesota Bismarck, North Dakota Dickinson, North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Minneapolis, Minnesota Minot, North Dakota Pierre, South Dakota Rapid City, South Dakota Sioux Falls, South Dakota Wilmar, Minnesota The majority of Midco's coverage area comes from its wireless network, but the provider's cable service is available to more homes. Fiber internet is less widely available, though Midco's fiber coverage has steadily increased in recent years, according to the FCC. In November 2024, Midco announced in a press release that it had begun expanding its fiber network to over 18 communities around Lake Minnetonka. Moreover, more than 360,000 homes will be equipped with fiber internet by 2028. According to the company's website, Midco is committed to expanding it's fiber offerings to new communities in the Midwest. Certain homes in areas like Jamestown, North Dakota; Amboy, Minnesota; Deephaven, Detroit Lakes, Fairhaven, Frazee and Independence may already have access to Midco's fiber tiers. Eligible households could also have speeds of up to 5 gigabits (5,000Mbps) Renting Wi-Fi equipment through Midco will add $11 to your monthly bill. That's not a bad deal considering many ISPs charge more to rent a router, but it's worth noting that some internet providers include your equipment for free" target="_self. The exception is the fiber 5-gigabit plan, which requires customers to provide their own router. Check out Midco's recommended routers for optimal service. Cable and fiber customers have the option to use their own compatible equipment" target="_self and lower their internet costs" target="_self by skipping the rental fee. However, cable customers aren't fully in the clear, as there is a required modem fee of $9 a month. Wireless internet customers, unfortunately, do not have the option to skip out on additional fees and use their own equipment, so if you're considering wireless service, go ahead and add $11 to your monthly cost. For houses larger than 1,500 square feet or with more than one floor, Midco recommends adding Wi-Fi pods as needed (up to five) for better whole-home Wi-Fi coverage. Mesh pods are available to rent for just $2 monthly per device. As for data caps and contracts, all Midco service types and plans come with unlimited data and are contract-free. Midco's quality of service and overall value will vary depending on the available service type at your address. Fiber is a preferable connection type over cable, and cable is preferred to fixed wireless. If your area's internet options include fiber internet from Midco and cable internet from another provider such as Xfinity" target="_self or Spectrum" target="_self, Midco will likely offer the best plan selection, including the fastest download and upload speeds and superior speed reliability. Pricing may be lower for comparable speeds as well. The downside to Midco is that while your prices start generally low, you don't keep that price for long. Other cable ISPs like Xfinity and Spectrum raise prices after a year versus Midco after only six months. For example, 500Mbps from Midco starts at $69 per month ($79 after six months), and the same download speed potential from Spectrum can initially run you $70 per month and $108 after 24 months. Even if you don't get to keep your price for an entire year, you would still be saving more money with Midco in the long run. On the other hand, if your address is only serviceable for Midco's cable service and a fiber provider like AT&T Fiber" target="_self or Quantum Fiber" target="_self is available, the fiber service will again probably present the best speed selection and value. Additionally, fiber internet is capable of delivering symmetrical upload and download speeds. While Midco's cable upload speeds are faster than most, maxing out around 200Mbps, they are still slower than what's available from a fiber connection. Midco's fixed wireless service is a decent option for internet in rural areas, but you'll want to pass on it if a cable or fiber ISP is available in your area. If there are none, Midco's fixed wireless internet is worth considering, especially in favor of a DSL service, though wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet" target="_self may be faster and cheaper (with no required equipment fees). Our usual sources for customer satisfaction, the American Customer Satisfaction Index" target="_self and J.D. Power" target="_self, don't currently include Midco in their national customer satisfaction reports. Midco did appear in a 2022 report from J.D. Power, however, where it took the top spot for customer satisfaction in the North Central region with a score of 734 out of 1,000, edging out AT&T's 724. The BBB gives Midco an A+ rating, but their customer review score is less favorable at 1.27 out of 5. While low scores are concerning, they are common among internet providers. For comparison, Xfinity, Frontier and Spectrum have BBB customer review scores of 1.07, 1.05 and 1.09, respectively. Among the mere 42 complaints filed with the BBB in the past three years, most concerns involve intermittent service outages and billing issues. Again, that's fairly typical of internet providers. Over on Allconnect, Midco received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from 27 customer reviews. One user commented that 'Midco is a great provider,' while another took issue with the TV pricing and another quipped the service 'only works about 4 hours a day while it spends the other 20 buffing.' Your experience with Midco will vary depending on the available connection type -- cable, fiber or fixed wireless -- at your address. Fixed wireless has the largest coverage area, but cable service is available to the most homes. Those fortunate enough to be on Midco's growing fiber network will have the best speed selection and service reliability. Pricing is competitive across all Midco connection types, even after the standard rates go into effect after 12 months. Service terms are also largely favorable as there are no data caps or contracts, though the router rental fee could add $11 to your monthly bill. Midco offers cable, fiber and fixed wireless connections. The available Midco service type will vary by address. Midco's introductory pricing starts at $39 monthly for fixed wireless service and ranges from $39 to $99 for cable service and $99 to $199 for fiber, depending on the speed tier you choose. Except for the 2-gig cable internet plan, most cable and wireless plans will see price increases to standard rates after six months, ranging from $49 to $89 for the cable tiers. In addition, renting equipment (optional with cable and the fiber 2-gig plan) will add $11 to your bill. Cable plans also come with a modem fee of $9 monthly. If you sign up for the fiber 5-gig plan, Midco requires you to use your own router. Check out Midco's list of recommended routers. No, all plans come with unlimited data, which means you don't have to worry about overage fees once you've reached an arbitrary threshold. Comcast, the parent company of cable internet service Xfinity, owns roughly half of Midco in partnership with Midcontinent Media. However, Midco's internet offerings are completely separate from Xfinity regarding connection types, speeds, pricing and service terms.
