Surf Internet has passed 100,000 locations across Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. The provider plans to extend their fiber network to nearly 400,000 passings by 2028.

The 100,000th passing is significant for Surf Internet, which provides fiber-optic internet mainly to unserved and underserved rural communities. Unlike large urban centers, rural fiber networks incur significantly more time, energy, and costs, with most rural homes costing multiple times more than those in more populated, denser areas. Due to these challenges, Surf has prioritized pursuing grant money to make traversing those rural miles financially feasible.

Since 2018, Surf has expanded its footprint, offering gig and multi-gig high-speed fiber internet services to meet the ever-growing demands of its customers. Surf credits its success to its focus on customer service, collaboration with local leadership, and quick, effective deployment of its fiber network.

The provider said its growth has been rapidly accelerated through the utilization of grant money to extend service into difficult-to-reach areas, investment and partnership of private equity firms Post Road Group and Bain Capital, and recent financing of $100 million from DigitalBridge Credit.

The most recent communities to go live on Surf’s coverage map are Knox and Gas City in Indiana, the cities of Dixon and Sterling in Illinois, and Byron Center near Grand Rapids in Michigan.

“We are honored to be on the front lines of transforming the rural landscape of the Great Lakes region,” said Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf. “Achieving our 100,000th passing is a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to our team’s dedication.”