Lakewood, WI (March 22, 2023) – Residents and businesses in a portion of Lakewood will soon have a new high-speed internet provider. Cellcom has partnered with Oconto County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) and the Town of Lakewood to provide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet, TV, and voice services to every address in the village. With fiber optic speed options starting at 300 Mbps up to 1 Gbps, the project will address the current need for fast, reliable internet service.
“Lakewood is a commercial hub for northern Oconto County while also being popular with recreational visitors. The town has struggled with reliable internet for residents, visitors, businesses and other organizations and we know that connectivity is critical to growth and sustainability. We look forward to working with Cellcom to bring the latest technology to Lakewood and ensure access to the latest technology that people desire and deserve,” said Jayme Sellen, executive director of OCEDC.
OCEDC partnered with Cellcom to obtain a broadband grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) in 2022 that will cover more than $1.2 million of the total $1.75 million project. The Oconto County Board of Supervisors pledged $250,000 to the project and the Town of Lakewood will contribute $40,000. Cellcom will be investing $182,000. The project will pass approximately 200 homes and 55 businesses in Lakewood. The project area includes households and businesses north and south of County Road F between Long St, Highway 32, and Whitetail Lane in Lakewood.
“Cellcom is committed to serving rural areas with the latest technological advances,” said Brighid Riordan, CEO of Cellcom. “We’re excited to partner with Oconto County and the Town of Lakewood to provide fiber-to-the-premises internet service to meet the need for gig-speed connections and improve the quality of life for Lakewood residents, business owners and visitors. Fiber is a significant investment and an incredible asset to a community because it’s future-proof. The technology behind can scale to support ever-evolving, higher-speed use cases.”
Fiber internet offers faster speeds, more bandwidth and improved reliability. The increased bandwidth can support more devices at one time, including multiple devices streaming or video conferencing simultaneously. Reliability keeps smart-home devices like security cameras, thermostats and more running around the clock. Cellcom will also provide equal upload and download capabilities. These symmetrical speeds are a major benefit for large uploads, smooth video calls or hosting live-streaming feeds.
Initial construction will begin soon, which will install fiber along the roadways. Installations will begin later this year. Residents and businesses can learn more at www.cellcom.com.
Cellcom is an innovative wireless and broadband company that operates its own regional network to provide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The company is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care and being a strong community partner. As a subsidiary of Nsight, Cellcom is part of a family of companies offering complete telecommunications services. Learn more at www.cellcom.com.
Media Contact:
Tammy VanDenBusch
Communications Manager
(920) 617-7107
Cindy Durand
Senior Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 617-7069
