Midco Internet Review Competitive Pricing and Expanding Fiber Network

Midco, a regional internet service provider headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, delivers cable, fiber, and fixed wireless internet across parts of the Midwest. Known for contract-free plans and unlimited data, Midco stands out with its competitive pricing and a growing fiber network that promises ultra-fast speeds up to 5,000 Mbps.

Diverse Internet Plans Tailored to Your Needs

Midco offers eight internet plans spanning fixed wireless, cable, and fiber options. The fixed wireless plan starts at $39 per month for speeds up to 100 Mbps, ideal for rural areas. Cable plans range from 125 Mbps to 2 Gbps, with notably high upload speeds reaching 350 Mbps on the 2 Gig plan. Fiber plans deliver symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps, catering to bandwidth-intensive users.

Pricing is competitive, with introductory rates often lasting six months before increasing. For example, the popular Internet 500 cable plan starts at $69 and rises to $79 after six months. Equipment rental fees of $11 per month apply for most plans, except the highest-tier fiber plan which requires customers to supply their own router.

Expanding Fiber Availability in the Midwest

Midco’s fiber network is steadily expanding, aiming to cover over 360,000 homes by 2028. This expansion focuses on communities around Lake Minnetonka and other Midwestern areas. Fiber’s symmetrical upload and download speeds make it the preferred choice for users seeking high reliability and performance.

While fixed wireless offers the broadest coverage, it provides the slowest speeds and is best suited for rural locations without cable or fiber options. Cable service remains the most widely available, providing a balance of speed and accessibility.

Customer Experience and Service Considerations

Midco’s customer satisfaction is mixed. It earned the top spot for customer satisfaction in the North Central region in a 2022 J.D. Power report but has a low rating on the Better Business Bureau due to complaints about outages and billing. These issues, however, are common in the ISP industry.

Midco’s no-contract, unlimited data plans are attractive, but customers should be aware of equipment fees and the relatively short promotional pricing period. For households seeking fast, reliable internet in the Midwest, especially where fiber is available, Midco offers compelling options.

How Midco Compares in the ISP Landscape

Compared to national providers like Xfinity and Spectrum, Midco offers competitive speeds and pricing, especially in its fiber offerings. However, price increases occur sooner than some competitors, typically after six months instead of a year. Fiber remains the gold standard for speed and reliability, with Midco’s growing network positioning it well for future demand.

In summary, Midco is a strong regional ISP choice for Midwest residents, offering a variety of plans, no data caps, and expanding fiber infrastructure. While equipment fees and price hikes are considerations, the provider’s speed options and contract-free service make it a compelling option for many users.