With the launch of Midco's Xstream Gig in Wahpeton, ND, and four surrounding communities, the DOCSIS 3.1-based gigabit Internet service is now available to 75% of Midco's customers. The company's goal is to reach 80% of its footprint by the end of the year.

The 1 Gbps service, available to both residential and business customers, was first launched in Fargo, ND, in March, followed by other deployments in the Dakotas and Minnesota, most recently in and around Watertown, SD, earlier this week. Early deployments have used CCAP gear from Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) and modems from ARRIS (NASDAQ:ARRS) and Hitron Technologies. Midco plans to add other vendors' DOCSIS 3.1 modems as they become available.