MADISON, WI — TDS Telecom’s fiber network build in Merrimac, Wis. is now complete. The network upgrades, impacting the former Merrimac Communications footprint, now connects more than 6,000 residential and business addresses to up to gigabit internet speeds, TV, and phone service.
“When we purchased Merrimac Communications we promised to bring state-of-the-art services,” says Julie Maiers, vice president of Marketing for TDS, “We have kept that promise. Customers can now enjoy some of the fastest internet speeds in the state, plus all-digital TV service, and reliable phone connections.”
Forty-six Miles of Buried Fiber
TDS finalized their purchase of Merrimac Communications in February 2018 and connected the first customers to the new fiber-optic network earlier this year. Now, the fiber build is complete and available to all addresses included as part of the project. The build included burying 46 miles of fiber and installing 14 equipment cabinets.
The vast majority of former Merrimac Communications customers have already upgraded to the new TDS Fiber service. The few remaining customers have been contacted about transitioning to TDS Fiber before Merrimac Communications services are discontinued on December 16.
Residential Fiber up to 1 Gbps
Residential customers who order TDS Fiber can order up to 1Gig internet speed, as well as TDS TV and phone. The TV service offers a variety of features not available to Merrimac Communications customers previously. For example, the included Connected-Home DVR links all TVs together in a home giving full DVR functionality and programming access to each wireless set-top box.
Businesses within the TDS Fiber footprint can order internet access and transport connections up to 10Gig via dedicated fiber, TDS managed IP (a hosted VoIP communications solution), as well as TDS TV.
With the discontinuation of Merrimac Communication services, the local office at 327 Palisade St. will no longer be open for walk-in traffic as of December 16. The facility will remain in use by TDS for local and regional field service technicians.
In the coming weeks TDS will wrap-up the remaining connection work and continue customer installations. Residents can visit TDSFiber.com to learn more about the services offered and call 888-225-5837 to sign up for service.