ELY- Midco, the newest fiber internet provider operating in Ely cut a ribbon on Tuesday, June 27, to celebrate the completion of their fiber-based broadband network in the city of Ely. A traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony usually takes place in front of a new business location, but since Midco’s network encompasses the entire city, the firm held its ribbon-cutting at the Ely Chamber of Commerce— an appropriate choice considering that their new network will almost certainly bring new economic development to the community.
The event marks a milestone for Ely. While being at the end of the road has its allure at times, it proved a disadvantage in the quest for broadband in recent years. But the wait appears to be over as Midco’s new system is offering state-of-the-art fiber-optic broadband with up to 5 Gbps symmetrical speed, which is better than half of the nation according to a recent study by Microsoft. It’s also better than 80 percent of all rural communities, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
The downtown core of Ely achieved broadband connectivity prior to 2022 through another communications firm. As the city’s cable provider, Midco recently made the decision to bring fiber capacity to residential portions of the city as well and the recently completed its two-year project to achieve that goal. Midco’s fiber service area now includes 2,500 homes in Ely and Winton and more than 30 miles of fiber, most of it above ground with about five miles of buried cable.
“This has definitely not been a small feat,” said Midco’s Government Relations Manager Melissa Wolf at the ribbon cutting. “Getting this upgrade done ... was expensive and required activating over 200 miles of redundant fiber rings (in) the city of Ely ... We are so glad to be here today finally celebrating that this is complete.”

Midco’s Ely network
According to information that Midco provided to the Timberjay in December, 2022, the communications firm has built a new “back-end” infrastructure with built-in redundancy. The new network uses two leased fiber lines from the Northeast Services Cooperative, one coming in from International Falls and one coming up from Duluth. Now, even if one line into Ely goes down, service will remain uninterrupted as it continues on the other line. The new network is also passive, meaning that it doesn’t depend on city power like the old coax lines. If the city power goes down, Midco has its own power plus local back-up generators to keep the network live.
On top of these two fiber cables, Midco has installed its own network equipment, including all its own fiber cable throughout Ely and its environs.
Ely’s path to fiber
At Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting, Mayor Heidi Omerza noted how long it took to bring this level of service to the city. “I remember about 18 years ago sitting ... watching a council meeting,” Omerza recalled. “Roger (Skraba) was the mayor,” where the city council “was talking about broadband and fiber.”
Omerza, who was not yet on the city council at the time spoke at that meeting. “I talked about the importance of education and what fiber and high-speed internet would mean to the community.”
Omerza noted that broadband had long been a priority item for the Ely Economic Development Authority, but because of Midco’s investment, that item has formally come off the agenda— as accomplished. “This is a momentous moment for us ... It means that the world is here. It means the world can come to Ely and work. They can also play and do other things. But they can be here. They can work all day and then they can go play, or they can play all day and then come home and work. So, we appreciate (Midco) making (Ely) a priority. And we love the fact that you have reached out to Ely and done what you have done.”
Other speakers at the ribbon cutting included state Rep. Roger Skraba, John Eloranta from U.S. Congressman Pete Stauber’s Hermantown office, and Ely Chamber of Commerce vice president David Sebesta.