Two Michigan Companies Partner Up on Investment to Provide 128-Mile Fiber Route From Southeld, MI to Bay City, MI
NEWS RELEASE by Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC
Marquette & Southfield, MI
July 1st, 2022, 8:00am EST
Marquette and Southeld, MI – July 1, 2022 - Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC (PFN), a provider of ber optic-based telecommunications and Next Generation 911 services throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and 123NET, a provider of ber internet, colocation, and voice services in Michigan, today announced their partnership on the middle mile ber-optic network from Bay City to Southeld. This privately funded, multi-million-dollar project spans approximately 130 miles adding much needed middle-mile capacity to Michigan’s telecommunications infrastructure.
“This additional ~130-mile Bay City to Southeld route creates easy and aordable connection opportunities for municipalities and businesses in that region that want the benets oered by advanced ber service,” said Dan Irvin, President, and CEO at 123NET. “We’re pleased to be developing this network with partners like PFN who share our commitment to Michigan’s overall connectivity and to providing exceptional service to each customer along the way.”
While PFN has its roots in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and 123NET is based in Metro-Detroit, the new northsouth ber route will have immediate benets to the local communities along the route. It will also provide overall connectivity between SE Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, extending into Wisconsin and Minnesota. This partnership further supports 123NET’s mission of building network to make Michigan the best connected.
Scott Randall, General Manager of Peninsula Fiber Network, stated “Partnering with 123NET offers a win-win for both companies and perhaps more importantly for the businesses and consumers in the state. We hope this joint investment is the rst of many between our companies, as we work to increase broadband capacity and available broadband service in the State of Michigan.”
Construction on the network has already begun and will be completed in sections over the next 18 months. The new high-capacity fiber is being installed along the I-75 corridor bringing state-of-the-art fiber connectivity into communities along the route, including Southfield, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Pontiac, Waterford, Clarkston, Davisburg, Holly, Fenton, Grand Blanc, Flint, Clio, Birch Run, Bridgeport, Saginaw, and Bay City. “Michigan’s economic development runs on high-speed fiber broadband lines. This joint broadband investment adds undisputed value to our region as we look to attract businesses and employees. PFN’s and 123NET’s middle mile investment is a welcome addition to our region and a positive point of collaboration with our neighboring counties.” Senator Ken Horn, Michigan’s 32nd Senate District; Chair, Senate Economic and Small Business Development Committee.
