Dakota Carrier Network launches statewide Wi-Fi

BY KAYLA PRASEK

Dakota Carrier Network, a provider of broadband and other internet-related services to customers throughout North Dakota, along with its 15 owner companies, announced Aug. 16 it is launching a Wi-Fi network that will allow customers to access DCN’s secure network throughout the state.

CEO Seth Arndorfer made the announcement at the State of Technology conference in Fargo, an annual event hosted by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce and Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) to highlight technological innovations being made in the region.

While Arndorfer noted that DCN has 40,000 miles of fiber optic cable in the ground, bringing high-speed internet to nearly every community in North Dakota, he said “connectivity is about more than just fiber infrastructure.

“Let’s face it — we as consumers want to access what we want, where we want, whenever we want to,” Arndorfer said. “Hot spots and expanded cellular data plans are becoming more common in response to consumer demand, but the reality is, not all Wi-Fi is the same. Through this initiative, DCN and our owners are leveraging investments in fiber and gigabit capacity to create a more secure, user-friendly, statewide solution to that growing demand for mobile access.”

Work has already begun on installing access points for the Wi-Fi network, beginning with Red River Technologies in southeast North Dakota. Statewide connectivity is expected to be complete within 24 months. Anyone who subscribes to service from DCN or its 15 owner companies will have access to the Wi-Fi network.

“We have the fiber in the ground. We have the capacity,” Arndorfer said. “Now we need to give you the same experience on your mobile device as if you were hardwired to the network.”

The Information Technology Council of North Dakota also announced the 2016 North Dakota IT Awards at the State of Technology conference. Marco, headquartered in St. Cloud, Minn., was named the Premier IT Business, while the Greater FargoMoorhead Economic Development Corp. was named the North Dakota IT Champion and the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck, N.D., was named the Technology Innovator. PB

Kayla Prasek

Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187 kprasek@prairiebusinessmagazine.com