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Hartington leads the state

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Local business offers huge increase in internet speeds

HARTINGTON — A local company’s equipment upgrade has enabled Hartington to become the first city in the state to offer true ultra high speed internet.

Hartelco CEO Tom Noecker said the company is in the process of completing an upgrade that will allow 10 gig internet service.

“The reason we are doing this is to encourage business and entrepreneurs to come to this community. Nobody else in the state can offer this,” Noecker said. “If there is an entrepreneur who is interested in 10 gig service, we have the pipe and we can offer it to them.”

The equipment upgrade was made possible by Hartelco’s conversion to all fiber optic lines several years ago.

While Noecker doesn’t expect to see many businesses need that much speed, he wants to make sure business and industry leaders around the region know it is available to them here.

“We are hoping this encourages any business or area entrepreneur to use this facility,” he said. “We now have the equipment and infrastructure to service their needs right here in Hartington, Nebraska. No one else can say that right now.”

Noecker said the communications industry is rapidly changing, and Hartelco is making sure they will remain on the cutting edge of those changes.

“We have a long range view of the industry and we plan to be involved in it,” he said. “We are not going to sit back for anything.”

Hartelco General Manager Dave Nilles said the company hopes to have the 10 gig roll out completed within the next year.

The upgrade means local residents and businesses can also see a speed bump in their internet service, as well.

Hartelco is now in the process of upgrading the equipment at each residence and business in the community to be able to handle the enhanced speeds.

The basic Hartelco internet package now starts at 25 Mbps. The company also offers monthly home and business packages that go up to 100 Mbps.

Hartelco Communications Director Marie Noecker said the company has been working hard to provide enhanced, affordable service to its customers.

“We are making the faster speeds more affordable which is important in this day and age,” she said. “Daily lives are now depending on broadband connection and functionality. With these higher speeds, more customers will be able to work and do their school work from home whenever needed.”

In the past, affordable internet rates were only available if the customer also had land line phone service through Hartelco. That is no longer the case, though. The new rates are now available to anyone, regardless if they have a land line through Hartelco, or not.

Hartelco also launched a new Voice Over Internet phone service Sept. 1. The new service provides high quality phone service and free long distance at a greatly reduced rate. The VOIP phone service can even use the customer’s current phone number and land line phone, Noecker said. See more about this on page 5.

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