Metronet — of Evansville, Ind. — has had crews working in every Marshalltown neighborhood for several months installing cable to provide high-speed reliable internet service without lag, according to Metronet’s city relations manager Shana Brockett.

And staff have been equally busy signing up customers.

“We choose to invest in cities like Marshalltown that have not had access to 100-percent fiber internet,” said Brockett in a recent interview with the T-R. “Metronet is the fastest internet services provider in the country, according to PCMag, We can’t wait to deliver more 5-gigabit internet speeds to Marshalltown homes so customers can stream, game and work remotely without being concerned about their internet connection. Businesses can experience 10-gigabit per second internet speeds and operate seamlessly.”

Metronet has been equally active signing up business and residential customers. One local customer is Lee Hite – who resides in the town’s northwest quadrant.

“Their service has been really dependable,” he said. “The hardware they provide is good, as it offers a wide range in connectivity. Metronet’s prices for service are reasonable too.”

The company started laying cable last fall.

“Since we began construction locally, we have connected thousands of residents and businesses to our ultrafast fiber-optic internet,” Brockett said. “Residents and businesses interested in Metronet’s service may visit metronet.com/ia/marshalltown to check service availability and sign-up.”

Brockett said Metronet expects to complete construction within Marshalltown city limits this year.

In the interview, the city relations manager said Metronet prides itself on supporting residents and businesses with superior customer service available 24/7 at metronet.com

“We do not have an office in Marshalltown and we do not have plans for one at this time,” Brockett said. “While we do not have a physical location, we are making a long-term investment through local employment and engaging as a member of the business community.”

The company does not currently have plans to serve Conrad, Laurel, State Center or other communities surrounding Marshalltown in the future, she said.

“However, we are always looking to expand our network to bring our service to more Iowans. If there are concentrations of residents who currently lack fiber internet, then we will certainly consider them,” Brockett said. “We encourage any community that may be interested in our service to reach out to us at metronet.com/gigabit-city.”

Brockett confirmed that T-Mobile and KKR (a global investment firm) announced a joint venture to acquire Metronet in the summer of 2024.

“We’re really excited about the T-Mobile announcement — it’s the biggest wireless company in the world teaming up with Metronet, the fastest-growing private fiber-to-the-home company,” she said. “We will have more to report when the deal closes later this year.”

Metronet employs approximately 3,000 associates, from local market management positions to sales and customer service professionals and service technicians. Metronet has a presence in Ames, Ankeny, Bettendorf, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City, Urbandale, Waterloo, and others Those interested in available positions may visit metronet.com/careers to explore opportunities in their area, Brockett said.