March 21, 2023

HUTCHINSON – Internet Freedom is on the way. 

 

Thanks to an overwhelming response from residents, IdeaTek is expanding its popular ultra-fast fiber internet to more Hutchinson residential areas and businesses. This expansion will give thousands more households access to gigabit speeds at affordable prices. 

 

IdeaTek has long been dedicated to bridging the digital divide in rural areas by bringing fiber internet access to underserved rural communities. However, internet access challenges extend beyond rural areas, said Daniel Friesen, IdeaTek’s co-founder and chief innovation officer. 

 

“We’ve been asked for a long time, ‘when is IdeaTek coming to Hutchinson?’” Friesen said. “For years, our focus has been on more rural areas. But we realize the need for Internet Freedom in urban communities, too. We decided to expand in Hutchinson, where I grew up, because we believe every Kansan – no matter where they live – deserves access to fiber internet.”

 

IdeaTek has already begun building fiber in many residential areas in Hutchinson. The entire project represents more than $12 million in new investment in the city and will provide dozens of new, well-paid technology jobs with a mission-oriented company.

 

Friesen said that investment in fiber is a scalable solution for Kansas’ future growth. Fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, scalable capacities for decades of future bandwidth demands, plus more reliability than the city’s current service providers. 

 

“We build to the standards of the future, not today,” he said. “Fiber internet is the gold standard for internet connectivity, and we want to bring this technology to as many communities as possible, including Hutchinson.”

 

With this rollout, IdeaTek offers unlimited, uncapped, symmetrical speeds of up to 2.5 gigabits per second. IdeaTek also does not require contracts. 

 

“We’re fortunate to have a homegrown company in Reno County bringing unprecedented reliable and fast internet connectivity to our local areas,” said Debra Teufel, president and CEO of the Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s great to have a growing list of options for consumers, residents, businesses and entrepreneurs to access the fastest in high-speed internet right here in Hutchinson and our neighboring communities.”

 

IdeaTek will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. March 30 at the Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the build. Refreshments will be served, and IdeaTek’s sales team will be available to discuss service plans.

 

Based in Buhler, IdeaTek was founded in 1999 by Friesen and four high school friends. Today, the company employs over 130 Kansans and is continuing to grow. IdeaTek has deployed more than 4,000 miles of fiber and built 150 fixed wireless towers, serving customers in nearly 90 Kansas communities. 

 

To see if your home is in IdeaTek’s residential build, visit hookmeup.ideatek.com.

About IdeaTek Telcom

IdeaTek Telcom, LLC, is a Buhler, Kansas-based broadband service provider with the mission of “fighting for Internet Freedom.” IdeaTek uses a unique and innovative approach to deploy scalable, long-term fiber optic infrastructures, bridging the broadband gap in rural communities. The company has already successfully built over 4,000 miles of fiber throughout Kansas. IdeaTek has long been at the forefront on broadband equity issues and is committed to enriching the communities in which they operate. They were recently named to Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing companies for the ninth time.ar