Michigan City officials joined Surf Internet on June 5 to celebrate the start of the company's next La Porte County project. It will bring fiber internet to 4,500 addresses.
Surf Internet plans to invest $5.6 million in the project, which will offer internet speeds up to 2 gigabits-per-second. The first phase of the project should be ready for customers by August, with all phases complete by August 2025.
“Surf Internet is committed to leading the way in innovation and connectivity,” said Scott Franko, Surf’s director of business development, in a press release. “We have been a longstanding partner of La Porte County and are proud to now extend that partnership to Michigan City.”
Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch also is happy about the partnership. Her goal when she first became mayor at the end if last year was for it to become a multi-gig city.
“From the start of my administration, I charged our IT department with the mission to connect our families and city,” Deuitch said during remarks at the groundbreaking. “Our IT Director Andrew Matanic and his talented team have worked diligently to make this vision a reality.”
The new fiber network was developed with the future in mind also. Company officials say the infrastructure is the foundation for up to 10 GBps in the future.
Deuitch said this groundbreaking is the start of realizing her goal.
“This initiative is not just about technology; it’s an economic development tool that will benefit our existing and future families,” she said. “We are grateful to Surf Internet for investing in our community and helping us achieve our vision.”
Clarence Hulse, executive director of the Economic Development Corp. Michigan City, also said multi-gig status is a “significant milestone.”
“Fiber connectivity is the second-most requested feature by people moving to a new city, and having this infrastructure will undoubtedly attract more residents and workers to Michigan City,” he said. “This advancement will greatly enhance our residents’ quality of life and drive economic growth in our community.”
Elkhart-based Surf Internet's 25 years have been dedicated to connecting communities, Franko said. This project is part of an overall commitment to help rural communities in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan connect to a fiber-optic network.
Surf Internet employs 250 people and has offices in La Porte and Elkhart, among others. Find updates on construction here.
