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Midcontinent Vastly Improves Network Capacity with Cisco's cBR-8 Converged Broadband Access Platform

SAN JOSE, Calif. AND SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 21, 2015 – Cisco and Midcontinent Communications® today announced the deployment of the Cisco® cBR-8 next-generation converged cable access platform (CCAP) across Midcontinent's entire network footprint. The Cisco cBR-8 will help Midcontinent increase network capacity with DOCSIS 3.1 broadband, while simplifying operations and accelerating the growth of its cable broadband network.

Midcontinent Communications serves more than 300,000 customers with cutting-edge Internet and networking, home automation and cable TV services – including ON Demand and TV Everywhere – in nearly 350 communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In June 2014, Midcontinent doubled speeds for customers, increasing download speeds to 200 Mbps. The 2014 PCMag.com speed index ranked Midcontinent as the fastest ISP in the U.S.

While supporting its high-bandwidth DOCSIS 3.0 network, Midcontinent will utilize the massive DOCSIS 3.1 capabilities of the new Cisco cBR-8 Evolved CCAP platform to grow its business by offering multi-Gigabit speed services.

The ability to serve all DOCSIS broadband and video services across the converged cBR-8 chassis brings significant operational benefits and cost savings for Midcontinent as it starts bringing Midcontinent Gigabit Initiative services online. By the end of 2017, the company's goal is to make gigabit speeds available to approximately 600,000 homes and 55,000 businesses along a high-capacity fiber network that covers more than 8,100 miles. Top speeds available from Midcontinent will be five times faster than its current best and 35 times faster than the average high-speed Internet access speed in America.

Supporting Quotes:

Jon Pederson, vice president of technology, Midcontinent Communications "Cisco's cBR-8 aligns with our strategy and vision to deliver Gigabit-speed Internet experiences that will change the quality of life and spur business innovation in the communities we serve. With our customers' bandwidth consumption doubling every 15 months, we need the right technology in place to support our network demands now and in the future. The unique DOCSIS and Remote PHY capabilities of the cBR-8 will help us meet our commitments for the Midcontinent Gigabit Initiative."

Brett Wingo, vice president and general manager, Service Provider Infrastructure Group, Cisco "Midcontinent is blazing the trail to offer Internet of Everything experiences at Gigabit speeds, opening the door for its customers to discover new ways to enjoy a true connected life. Advancing its cable access architecture with cBR-8's advanced multi-Gigabit DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 technologies and converged video capabilities is a key step in their well-planned network evolution strategy."