Midco Plans $20 Million Fiber Expansion in Minnesota
The telecom provider will upgrade network infrastructure serving central and northeastern Minnesota communities over several years.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Telecommunications
Live Poll
Would you switch to a faster fiber internet provider if it became available?
Midco plans to invest more than $20 million over several years to expand fiber internet service to approximately 14,700 homes and businesses in central and northeastern Minnesota. The project replaces portions of the existing hybrid fiber-coaxial network with fiber-to-the-premises technology across about 400 miles of infrastructure.
Why it matters
The upgrade would bring fiber internet to communities across Itasca County and surrounding areas, replacing older network infrastructure in the region. Midco's phased approach means service improvements will reach residents gradually as construction progresses.
The project covers approximately 400 miles of network infrastructure, replacing portions of the hybrid fiber-coaxial network with fiber-to-the-premises technology. In McGregor, Midco is completing about five miles of fiber construction during 2026 serving roughly 277 locations, though the full scope of equipment specifications was not detailed.
The players
Midco
Midco is a regional telecommunications and cable provider headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering internet, phone and television services across the upper Midwest.
The details
Midco is installing new equipment and transitioning network systems in facilities acquired from SCI Broadband. Communities included in the project are Bovey, Coleraine, Floodwood, Hill City, McGregor and others, along with portions of Grand Lake, Greenway and Canosia townships.
Timeline
2026: Midco constructs approximately five miles of fiber in McGregor.
End of 2026: Midco expects upgrades to about half of the acquired service area to be complete.
Beginning in 2027: Broader phased construction is expected to continue over several years.
The Tech Race
The project reflects the broader shift among cable operators from hybrid fiber-coaxial plant toward fiber-to-the-premises networks, which offer higher symmetrical speeds than coaxial lines. Midco's approach of acquiring and upgrading SCI Broadband facilities shows how regional providers are consolidating and modernizing older cable systems rather than building entirely new networks.
Residents in the listed communities may eventually gain access to fiber internet service as construction reaches their area. Households and businesses should check Midco's service availability tools to confirm when fiber becomes available at their address.
The takeaway
Fiber upgrades like this one replace aging cable infrastructure in phases, so residents should expect service to arrive gradually rather than all at once. Checking provider availability early helps households plan for faster connections as construction reaches their community.
What happens next
Midco expects to complete upgrades to about half of the acquired service area by the end of 2026, with broader phased construction beginning in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Telecommunications coverage to see how regional providers are expanding broadband access across Minnesota.
More information
Check fiber availability at your address through the Midco fiber service availability check.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Grand Rapids Herald-Review.
Live Poll
Would you switch to a faster fiber internet provider if it became available?
