Kalamazoo, Battle Creek to Have Increased Access to 100% Fiber-Optic Internet Service

MetroNet, the nation’s largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber-optic provider, today announced the acquisition of Southwest Michigan-based CTS, a fiber-optic internet company serving Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and several other Michigan communities. The move will allow MetroNet to expand the CTS ultra-high-speed fiber-optic network to reach more Michigan residential and business customers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, however MetroNet plans to invest more than $100 million to expand fiber-optic network services to many surrounding communities and neighborhoods.

“CTS shares our values and our desire to bring customer-focused, fiber-optic telecommunication services to homes and businesses throughout the communities we serve,” said John Cinelli, MetroNet CEO. “The Great Lake State deserves access to a future-proofed network that provides reliable, high-speed service and expands economic development potential. By building on what CTS has already accomplished, we will bring that reality for the people and businesses that make up Michigan.”

“We are excited to become a part of the MetroNet family. This opportunity will bring significant investment in 100 percent fiber-optic infrastructure throughout Kalamazoo and Battle Creek,” said Stacey Hamlin, CTS President and CEO. “Through this acquisition, MetroNet will support continued economic development for the communities we serve while supporting the values that guide us.”

CTS currently serves portions of Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Portage, Texas Township and Climax in Michigan with Gigabit speed internet. This acquisition will allow MetroNet to leverage CTS’ fiber-optic infrastructure to provide these additional areas of these markets with access to lightning-fast service directly to homes and businesses. CTS customers will continue to benefit from Gigabit internet speeds with no data caps, full-featured fiber phone service and fiber IPTV.

The two companies are expected to fully integrate under the MetroNet brand in the months to come, and plan to integrate all MetroNet product line features in 2022.

About CTS:

Serving communications needs for over 100 years, CTS Telecom Inc. is a provider of voice, internet, and fiber-optic high-speed data services for residential and business customers throughout Southwest Michigan. CTS provides ultra-fast services to portions of Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Portage, Texas Township and Climax, Michigan. CTS offers customers residential and business fiber-optic internet, business voice phone services, data transport, and business technology solutions. With symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 1 Gigabit, CTS provides customers across service areas with access to secure high-speed fiber-optic internet directly to homes and businesses across service areas. For more information, please visit gocts.com.

About MetroNet:

MetroNet is the nation’s largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber-optic company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The customer-focused company provides cutting-edge fiber-optic communication services, including high-speed Fiber Internet, full-featured Fiber Phone, and Fiber IPTV with a wide variety of programming. MetroNet started in 2005 with one fiber-optic network in Greencastle, Indiana, and has since grown to serving and constructing networks in more than 120 communities across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Missouri. MetroNet is committed to bringing state-of-the-art telecommunication services to communities — services that are comparable or superior to those offered in large metropolitan areas. MetroNet has been named in the top 50 small and medium companies on Glassdoor and has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award recognizing MetroNet among the Best Places to Work in 2020. MetroNet has been recognized by PC Mag as one of the Top 10 Fastest ISPs in North Central United States in 2020 and Top 10 ISPs with Best Gaming Quality Index in 2021. Broadband Now has recognized MetroNet as the Top 3 Fastest Internet Providers and Fastest Fiber Providers in the Nation in 2020, and #1 Fastest Mid-Sized Internet Provider in two states in 2020. In 2020, MetroNet was awarded the Vectren Energy Safe Digging Partner Award from Vectren. For more information, visit www.MetroNetinc.com.

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