- COMING SOON TO WILLMAR, MINNESOTA
Real internet. Real People. Real Simple.
You deserve internet that works when you need it, uploads as fast as it downloads, and never surprises you with a price increase. Willmar Connect makes that possible. Pre-order your fiber plan today and pay nothing until service is live.
Your Internet Should Not Be the Weakest Link in Your Home
You are on a video call and your camera freezes. Your kids start streaming and the whole house slows down. You pay for “high speed” but your upload crawls at a fraction of what was advertised. And every year, your bill quietly goes up.
This is not a technology problem. It is an infrastructure problem. Most internet in Willmar still runs over shared coaxial cable or aging copper lines that were never designed for how we use the internet today. You have been making do with what was available because there was no real alternative.
That is changing.
Willmar Built You a Better Option
The City of Willmar is investing $24.5 million to build Willmar Connect, a city-owned underground fiber optic network that will reach all 7,000+ homes and businesses inside city limits. Before this project, only 23 properties in the entire city had fiber access. The city council voted to change that, even after the largest cable provider asked them to stop.
Willmar Connect is open-access, which means the city owns the fiber and multiple internet providers compete to serve you. You choose your provider. If you are not happy, you switch. The fiber stays because it belongs to Willmar, not any corporation.
What “Fiber-Powered” Actually Means (and Why It Matters to You)
Some providers in Willmar advertise “fiber-powered internet.” Before you compare plans, it is worth understanding what that means for your experience at home.
With cable internet (HFC), fiber runs to a box in your neighborhood, then old coaxial cable carries the signal the rest of the way to your house. That last stretch is shared with your neighbors. When everyone gets home in the evening and starts streaming, your speeds drop. And no matter which cable plan you buy, your upload speed tops out around 35 Mbps. That is why your video calls stutter, your cloud backups take forever, and uploading photos or files feels painfully slow.
Willmar Connect is fiber to the home (FTTH). A dedicated fiber line runs from the network directly to your wall. Nothing is shared. Your upload speed matches your download speed on every plan, from 1 Gbps all the way to 8 Gbps. Evening slowdowns do not happen because your line is yours alone.
Intellipop is one of the providers on Willmar Connect. We have operated on open-access fiber networks across seven states and we carry a 4.9 star average across 1,250+ Google reviews. We are here to guide you through the transition to real fiber and make sure your experience is simple from pre-order to activation.
Getting Connected Is Simple
Step 1: Pre-order your plan. Pick your speed, enter your address, and you are in line. No charge, no commitment. Step 2: We notify you. When construction reaches your neighborhood, we will let you know your address is ready. Confirm, change, or cancel your plan at that time. Step 3: Get connected. We handle activation, provide your router, and make sure everything works. You are online with real fiber.
Pre-Order Your Fiber Internet Plan on Willmar Connect
- 1000 Mbps Download & Upload
- 24/7 Customer Support
- No Long Term Commitments
⭐ Most Popular
- 2000 Mbps Download & Upload
- 24/7 Customer Support
- No Long Term Commitments
Perfect for households with multiple users and devices.
- 5000 Mbps Download & Upload
- 24/7 Customer Support
- No Long Term Commitments
- 8000 Mbps Download & Upload
- 24/7 Customer Support
- No Long Term Commitments
24/7 HD Streaming.
Net Neutrality & Privacy.
No Data Caps.
Simple Billing Promise.
Fiber Internet Coverage and Construction in Willmar, MN
Willmar Connect is being built in three phases over approximately three years. The contractor is Kramer Service Group, who has completed similar fiber builds in Buffalo, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. All fiber is installed underground in protective conduit.
Phase 1 covers businesses and residences west of First Street South between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue. Construction is underway in 2026.
Phases 2 and 3 expand south, east, and north of Highway 12 to reach the rest of the city.
More than 870 households have already pre-ordered across all three phases. You do not need to wait for your phase to start. Reserve your plan now and we will reach out when your address is ready.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
Cable and DSL are not getting better. Prices go up. Promo rates expire. Upload speeds stay locked at a fraction of what you download. As more devices come into your home and more of your work moves online, the gap between what you need and what cable delivers only grows wider. Willmar built this network because the existing providers were not investing in upgrades. If you wait, you are betting on companies that have already shown you what they are willing to offer.
What Life Looks Like on Real Fiber
Your video calls are crisp and stable, even when three other people in the house are streaming. Large files upload in seconds instead of minutes. Your kids do homework, your spouse watches a movie, and you run a backup to the cloud all at the same time, and nobody notices. Your bill is the same this month as it was last month and will be the same next month. No surprises.
About Willmar
Willmar is the county seat of Kandiyohi County, with a population over 21,000 and a growing role as the regional hub for healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and education. Ridgewater College serves thousands of students. Major employers like Jennie-O Turkey Store and Rice Memorial Hospital anchor the economy. The area is surrounded by more than 360 lakes and connected to Spicer and New London by the 22 mile Glacial Lakes State Trail.
With multiple internet providers now competing on Willmar Connect, residents finally have options that match the investment this city is making in its future. That is exactly what Willmar Connect delivers.
Fiber Internet vs. Cable: Your Experience in Willmar, MN
| Your Situation | With Intellipop on Willmar Connect | With “Fiber-Powered” Cable |
|---|---|---|
| You are on a work video call | Crystal clear both ways. Symmetrical upload means your camera feed is as smooth as theirs. | Your camera freezes or pixelates. Upload is capped around 35 Mbps no matter what plan you have. |
| The whole family is online at once | Everyone streams, games, and browses without noticing each other. Dedicated fiber line to your home. | Speeds drop as your coaxial cable is shared with neighbors. Evening slowdowns are common. |
| You upload large files or back up to the cloud | Uploads finish in minutes. 1 Gbps up on the 1 Gig plan, 8 Gbps up on the 8 Gig plan. | Cloud backups run overnight. Even on a 2 Gbps plan, upload maxes at 35 Mbps. |
| You check your bill after the first year | Same price. Month 1 and month 13 are identical. | Promotional rate expired. Bill jumped $20 to $40 per month. |
| You want to cancel or switch | No contract. No fee. On open-access fiber, you can switch providers anytime. | Early termination fee. One provider controls the line to your house. |
| You call for help at 9pm | A real person answers. Knows the Willmar Connect network. Resolves it. | Phone tree. Hold music. National call center reading a script. |
| You want the fastest speed available | 8 Gbps symmetrical. Upload matches download. | Up to 2 Gbps download, but only 35 Mbps upload. |
The difference is not the speed your provider advertises. It is the speed you actually experience when it matters.
You Have a Choice. Here Is How to Make It.
Willmar Connect is open-access, which means multiple providers compete for your business on the same city-owned fiber. That is new for Willmar. For the first time, you are not locked into one internet provider. You compare fiber internet plans and pick the one that fits. Here is what to look for when comparing your options.
Ask about upload speeds.
If a provider cannot tell you the exact upload speed on their plan, or if it is a fraction of the download, the connection runs over shared cable for the last stretch. On Intellipop, every plan is symmetrical. 1 Gbps down means 1 Gbps up. That is the difference you feel during video calls, cloud backups, and large file transfers.
Ask what happens to the price after 12 months.
Promotional pricing means your bill goes up later. Intellipop does not do that. The price you see today is the price you pay every month. No introductory rates, no hidden fees, no equipment rental charges.
Ask who picks up the phone at 10pm on a Tuesday.
Intellipop support is available 24/7 by phone or text. A real person who knows the Willmar Connect network answers your call. Not a phone tree. Not a chatbot. Not someone reading from a script in another state.
Ask about contracts.
Every Intellipop plan is month to month. No cancellation fees. If we are not earning your business, you should be free to leave. That keeps us accountable and keeps you in control.
Ask about track record.
We operate on open-access fiber networks across Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Georgia, and Texas. Our 4.9 star average across 1,250+ Google reviews reflects thousands of customers who made the same decision you are making now. They chose the provider that put them first.
What is the difference between real fiber and "fiber-powered" cable?
Real fiber (FTTH) means a dedicated fiber optic line runs directly from the network to your house. Your upload speed matches your download, and your connection is not shared with anyone.
"Fiber-powered" cable uses fiber only part of the way. The last stretch to your house runs over old coaxial cable shared with your neighbors. That is why cable uploads max out around 35 Mbps and why your internet slows down when the neighborhood gets online in the evening. Willmar Connect delivers real fiber all the way to your wall.
When will service be available at my address?
Phase 1 covers the area west of First Street South between Highway 12 and 19th Avenue, with construction underway in 2026. Phases 2 and 3 expand south, east, and north to cover the rest of the city over approximately three years. Pre-order now regardless of your phase and we will notify you when your address is ready.
Do I pay anything to pre-order?
No. Pre-ordering is free. You will not be billed until your fiber connection is installed and service is activated. Change or cancel anytime before that.
What speeds and prices does Intellipop offer?
Four plans, all symmetrical (upload matches download): 1 Gbps at $54.95/mo, 2 Gbps at $75.00/mo, 5 Gbps at $134.95/mo, and 8 Gbps at $149.95/mo. For context, the fastest upload you can get on cable in Willmar today is about 35 Mbps.
Will my price go up after a promotional period?
No. We do not use promotional pricing. The price you see today is the price you pay every month. No introductory rates, no hidden fees, no equipment rental charges.
Are there contracts?
No. Every plan is month to month. Cancel anytime with no penalty.
How does installation work?
Willmar Connect fiber is installed underground in protective conduit. During construction, a fiber line is run directly to your home. When your address is ready, Intellipop coordinates activation and provides your router. We handle everything from pre-order to working internet.
Can I switch to a different provider later?
Yes. The city owns the fiber, so you can switch between any provider on the network without a technician visit or physical changes. The infrastructure stays the same. Only your provider changes.
Who do I call if something goes wrong?
Intellipop, any time of day or night. Call or text 801-851-1770. A real person answers and troubleshoots your connection directly. If the issue involves the physical network, we coordinate with Hometown Fiber so you only make one call.
Does Intellipop offer business plans?
Yes. Business plans with dedicated support are available on Willmar Connect. Contact us for pricing and pre-order details.
What other providers are on Willmar Connect?
Multiple ISPs offer service on Willmar Connect, including Intellipop, Zuma Internet, and Broadband MN. Because the network is open-access, you can compare plans and switch at any time.
Why did Willmar build its own fiber network?
Before Willmar Connect, only 23 properties in the city had fiber access. The rest depended on cable or DSL, and existing providers were not investing in upgrades. The city council voted to build a modern fiber network so every home and business could have access to real internet with a choice of providers.
Stop settling for internet that slows down when you need it most. Pre-order real fiber today.
Fiber Internet Providers in Willmar, MN and Kandiyohi County
Intellipop delivers fiber internet in Willmar and across Kandiyohi County on the Willmar Connect open-access network. Residents of Willmar and surrounding communities including Spicer, New London, Pennock, Atwater, Kandiyohi, Raymond, and Svea can pre-order now.
We also serve communities across Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Georgia, and Texas. See all Intellipop service areas
