HickoryTech Surpasses 20,000 DSL Subscribers

Company drives continued broadband growth

MANKATO, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HickoryTech Corporation (NASDAQ: HTCO) announced today it has surpassed 20,000 DSL subscribers. The company offers high-speed Internet and DSL service to 34 rural communities and has consistently upgraded its broadband services and network to expand broadband availability and reach the vast majority of its telecom service area.

Since launching DSL services in 1999, the company has continually increased its speeds with the most recent speed increase being this past February. HickoryTech has increased its speeds more than 80 times its inaugural offering with no rate increases during this time. HickoryTech offers residential speeds up to 20 Mbps and business speeds up to 45 Mbps in select areas.

"Expanding our DSL service area to bring broadband to rural Minnesota and Iowa has been an important priority for HickoryTech,” said Damon Dutz, president of HickoryTech's Consumer and Network Solutions Division. “We’re very pleased to reach this broadband milestone of 20,000 DSL subscribers and to continue to deliver strong value through frequent speed increases, in-demand features and local customer support to our customers.”

HickoryTech has been an industry leader in deploying high-speed Internet services to rural communities across south central Minnesota and northwest Iowa. The company has aggressively expanded its deployment of DSL services across its telecom service area. Over the past ten years, HickoryTech has achieved a compound annual growth rate of 37 percent with its DSL subscriber growth.

HickoryTech’s high-speed Internet and DSL service includes: free spam and email virus protection, free installation, local customer service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and free personal web space. The company’s Select bundles offer valuable discounts to customers who subscribe to DSL, Digital TV and local phone services.

Another broadband milestone was reported last October when HickoryTech announced it had surpassed 10,000 Digital TV subscribers. HickoryTech offers Digital TV services across 18 communities located in south central Minnesota. The company continues to enhance its Digital TV services by adding new programming and expanding the availability of HD and DVR services in the communities served.

About HickoryTech
HickoryTech Corporation is a leading communications provider serving business and residential customers in the upper Midwest. With headquarters in Mankato, Minn., the corporation has 460 employees and an expanded, multi-state fiber network spanning more than 2,750 route miles serving Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Enventis provides IP-based voice and data solutions, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosted services and communication systems to businesses across a five-state region. HickoryTech delivers broadband Internet, Digital TV, voice and data services to businesses and consumers in southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa. NASDAQ: HTCO. For more information, visit www.hickorytech.com.

CONTACT:

HickoryTech Corporation
Jennifer Spaude, 507-386-3765

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Internet  Networks  Audio/Video  Telecommunications  Mobile/Wireless

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