IdeaTek is bringing gigabit fiber internet to Valley Center, Kansas
VALLEY CENTER, Kansas – Internet Freedom is coming to Valley Center.
IdeaTek is expanding its popular ultra-fast fiber internet to thousands of Valley Center residents and businesses. This game-changing expansion will deliver gigabit speeds at affordable prices, empowering the community with a new era of connectivity.
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.
“At IdeaTek, we believe every community and every Kansan deserves access to high-speed fiber internet, and we’re excited to be making it a reality in Valley Center,” Friesen said. “With fiber, we are providing a new foundation for innovation, creativity and progress in the age of the digital economy.”
IdeaTek has recently built fiber infrastructure in the nearby communities of Colwich and Halstead. The company is also currently building fiber internet to Sedgwick, Burrton and Cheney.
Last year, IdeaTek deployed wireless internet to Valley Center and the surrounding rural areas. It was developed as a temporary solution until fiber could be built. Investment in fiber is a scalable solution for Kansas’ future growth, Friesen said. Fiber internet offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, scalable capacities for decades to come, enhanced reliability, and better pricing compared to current service providers in the city.
“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.”
IdeaTek’s investment in Valley Center will inject approximately $4 million into the local economy, connecting over 2,000 homes and businesses. Construction is set to begin this month, bringing residents unlimited and uncapped speeds of up to 2.5 gigabits per second. Furthermore, IdeaTek offers the convenience of no-contract agreements, giving customers more flexibility.
Valley Center City Administrator Brent Clark said the city is committed to providing residents with affordable essential services, including water, electricity and internet.
“Ensuring every home in Valley Center has access to high-speed, reliable fiber internet is not only beneficial for the current generation but also for generations to come, enabling them to work and play seamlessly,” he said. “Our mission as a city is to provide competitive offerings — high-speed internet at the most affordable rates, so our citizens can enjoy worry-free connectivity.”
To celebrate the build, IdeaTek will be sponsoring a chamber event and ribbon cutting on June 21. Refreshments will be served and the IdeaTek team will be on hand to answer questions about service plans and the construction process.
Based in Buhler, IdeaTek was founded in 1999 by Friesen and four high school friends. Today, the company employs over 140 Kansans and is continuing to grow. IdeaTek has deployed more than 4,500 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 4,500 miles of fiber throughout Kansas. IdeaTek has long been at the forefront of 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.
