It’s always good to start the week off with big broadband upgrades in rural Minnesota. Here’s the latest from Cooperative Network Services…

Cooperative Network Services (CNS) recently completed the required network upgrades to install their first 100 Gigabit service to a Minnesota Internet Service Provider.

The newly upgraded ROADM transport network, utilizing Cisco’s ONS platform, will deliver the bandwidth needed for the first of likely many MN ISPs and WISPs looking to upgrade their connection speeds for future high-bandwidth including the increases in providers who are now offering Gigabit services to business and residential customers.

“This 100Gb upgrade will allow us to provide the bandwidth required by MN ISPs and end-users as data transmission needs increase.” said Dean Bahls, CNS’ Network Services Manager. “We continue to see increases in Internet and dedicated circuit traffic resulting from growth in the video, mobile and cloudbased software and data backup/recover services.”

The network upgrade went smoothly, and 100 Gb wavelengths are now ready for commercial deployment throughout the CNS transport network footprint from Minneapolis and throughout Northern, MN.

“It’s exciting to cross the 100 Gb threshold as so many of the predictions about data usage are coming true. This 10Gb to 100Gb upgrade will be an important part of the advancement of emerging technologies like tele-health, distance learning, immersive entertainment, and the Internet of Things,” said Jason Dale, CNS’ CEO.

CNS’ transport network now covers over 1,100 route miles with 24 pops connecting multiple ISPs, wireless towers, data centers and end users to both Fargo and the 511 building in Minneapolis.

Covering some of the most rural parts of Minnesota, CNS connects hundreds of thousands of out-state users to the information they need each day.