Arvig Dubs Melrose, MN "Gig Central"

PERHAM, MN — Arvig, a full-service independent telecommunications provider, announced that it can provide Internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps for downloads in Melrose, adopting the name “Gig Central” for one of the state's first gigabit cities.

At the start of the year, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) called for at least one gigabit community in all 50 states by 2015. Since then, cities all over the nation have been looking to turn up Internet speeds. Melrose now joins this elite list.

Arvig has a long history of industry leading achievements thanks to its innovative leaders. Once known as the Perham Telephone Company, Arvig has grown into a full-service telecommunications provider, serving more than 65,000 people and covering over 9,000 square miles. It has been the company’s mission to keep rural Minnesota well ahead of the digital divide.

One gigabit is approximately 100 times faster than the average high-speed Internet connection. With this type of speed, connections can handle multiple content streams from video streaming and online calls, to live gaming and high-definition files.

“The demand for higher speeds increases every year, as bandwidth usage increases,” said Mark Birkholz, Melrose ambassador and director of southern markets at Arvig. “These speeds should draw heavy residential users and start-up entrepreneurs to Melrose. A gig may not be a need for everyone, but Arvig can deliver any speed that is needed along the way, ending with a gig. With this infrastructure already in place, Melrose really is ‘Gig Central.'”