Partner Communications Cooperative Announces Fiber Build Plans for 2025-2027

Partner Communications Cooperative is committed to bringing the increased speed and reliability of fiber internet to more of its members through an expanded Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network.

The first phase of the fiber build, begun in 2024, is taking place in rural State Center. The main lines have been buried, and contractors are currently burying the service lines. Once placement of the service lines is completed, Partner Communications Cooperative will be splicing and connecting customers in rural State Center to the new network.

While the rural State Center project continues, contractors will begin working in the rural Rhodes area and then rural Melbourne and Baxter. The plan is to complete main lines in all remaining rural areas of Partner Communications Cooperative by the end of 2025.

Chris Riddle, General Manager, said, “Residents and businesses of the State Center exchange can be expected to connect to fiber internet service later this year or in early 2026. The plan is for the other towns to be completed and connected as quickly as possible, prior to December 2027. It’s a big undertaking that takes time. By the completion of our entire fiber build, we will have placed 188 square miles of fiber.”

The fiber build area was selected to provide an upgrade to existing members of the cooperative, who need better internet services than those currently available in these communities.

“Our old copper plant is outdated. Depending on proximity to our central offices, some members at out-of-town locations are not even able to get a 5Mbps/1Mbps DSL internet speed, and in-town members may only have access to 20Mbps/1Mbps. Our FTTH network will enable us to offer much faster speeds to all members in all exchanges. Partner Communications Cooperative will initially offer internet speeds of up to 1Gig (1,000Mbps), and we have the ability to offer even faster speeds in the future if the demand is there,” Riddle said. 

If you are living within the Partner Communications Cooperative exchange boundaries, you are encouraged to contact the office — call 641-498-7701 or email customercare@pcctel.net — to schedule a site survey. This means a technician will survey your property to determine where a service line is to be placed, and contractors will come back and install FTTH after the main lines are buried. No fiber cable will be placed on a person’s property without a completed site survey. During this construction process, all drops to homes will be completed at no cost to Partner Communications Cooperative members.

About Partner Communications Cooperative
Headquartered in Gilman, Iowa, Partner Communications Cooperative provides advanced broadband and automation services, as well as superior technical support, to its members in east-central Iowa communities.

Contact:
Chris Riddle, General Manager
Partner Communications Cooperative
641-498-7701
customercare@pcctel.net