in downtown Fargo

By Kayla Prasek

While winter weather has halted underground construction on Midco’s network infrastructure in Fargo, work has continued on the city’s overhead lines. Because of that continued progress, Midco was able to activate residential and business services in downtown Fargo in January.

Midco is bringing advanced internet and networking, cable TV and phone services to Fargo as part of a multi-year investment. “It’s really exciting to see this progress and hear from people in town how they’re happy to have our services,” says Clay Stephens, senior director of regional operations. “So far, with 85 percent of the project complete, we’ve built out more than 2.2 million feet of underground line and turned on 233 power supplies to deliver services to Fargo residents and businesses.”

When the City of Fargo lifts its construction moratorium in the spring, Midco will finish building the last 255,000 feet of underground line to deliver its services to every residential address and most businesses in the city. Midco expects to complete the entire Fargo construction project by Sept. 1, 2017.

“We could not have made the progress we’ve made today without the hard work and dedication of each team member and the cooperation of the City of Fargo engineering group,” says Erin Hayes, Midco’s director of corporate construction. “A project of this scale could be extremely intrusive. Everyone understanding their role and responsibilities has significantly reduced the impact to Fargo residents.”

As construction continues, Fargo is closer to having access to internet with speeds up to 35 times the national average. Midco chose the Fargo metro area as the first market to launch Midco Gig services in early 2017, with plans to expand gigabit internet across the entire service area.

“From personal devices and TVs to complex business networking services, the Fargo area needs a network that can meet the demands of today and the future, and Midco is delivering that infrastructure,” says Justin Forde, Midco’s director of public affairs. “That’s especially important in Fargo, where we’re happy to be a part of the unprecedented growth in this community.”

Work completed thus far in Fargo makes up nearly half of the $50 million Midco invested in North Dakota in 2016. Midco also expanded its operations center in West Fargo and expects to add more than 100 jobs in the next five years.