Surf Broadband begins construction on fiber infrastructure for Ottawa

Surf Broadband Solutions is investing over $13 million to extend its fiber optic network through Ottawa and customer installations for homes and businesses have begun.

Its current network covers Minooka, Coal City, Manhattan and Elwood, and the $13 million investment will direct construction and network resources into Ottawa over the next two years. The project is funded completely by private investment and no public tax dollars, tax incentives or subsidies have been used.

“This will be a fantastic opportunity for our citizens as everyone will eventually have access to dependable high-speed internet,” said Mayor Dan Aussem. “As more people choose to work remotely, this will make our city a preferred location to live and work. We are excited to begin this partnership with Surf Broadband Solutions.”

Surf has already completed projects in Ottawa with Ottawa Elementary School District 141, Ottawa Township High School District 140, Heritage Harbor and a fiber feed into the Jordan Block for event WiFi.

“Access to high-capacity fiber means better productivity for business, more opportunities for the new economy working-from-home model, plus a boost for job creation and company relocations to Ottawa,” said Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Director Jeff Hettrick.

Surf said in a Monday news release that traditional copper-based broadband services are being outstripped by home users’ needs as they rely on internet for work-from-home, distance learning, 4K video streaming, video security and home automation and that fiber optic delivers up to a hundredfold increase in capacity over phone or coaxial lines.