| Year | 25/3 Mbps | 100/20 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
#60 of 87 79.21% |
#58 of 87 67.75% |
| 2018 |
#67 of 87 70.7% |
#34 of 87 68.42% |
| 2017 |
#64 of 87 65.26% |
#31 of 87 64.58% |
Rank: 58 (out of 87) for broadband speeds of 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps)
Watonwan County is not primed to meet MN broadband speed goals for 2022 or 2026.
Watonwan County has benefited from several state grants:
- 2017 – New Ulm Telecom, Inc. – Hanska A&D FTTP – GRANT $324,894
Serving 9 unserved households and 38 unserved businesses in the Hanska area south of New Ulm near the border of Brown and Watonwan Counties with service levels to 1 Gbps. - 2016 – NEW ULM TELECOM, INC. HANSKA – GRANT: $ 200,397
Serving 14 unserved households and 32 unserved businesses in Lake Hanska Township in Brown County and Riverdale Township in Watonwan County. - 2015 – MVTV Wireless Middle Mile
Grant award: $808,080
This project is a Middle Mile broadband infrastructure buildout to upgrade backhaul capacity between site locations within 20 southwestern Minnesota counties: Blue Earth, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, Redwood, Renville, Sibley Swift, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine.
Watonwan needs help to reach the speed goals. In November 2018, SDN announced two broadband partners to its Minnesota network, which will improve business broadband reach into two counties of that state – Nobles and Watonwan. That should help it.
In September 2019, Senator Smith visited Watonwan County to learn about the state of rural broadband.
Find more articles on broadband in Watonwan County.
Household Density
10.3
Has Worked with Blandin Foundation
Yes
Has Received MN Grant(s)
Yes