Idaho Falls has launched its newest tier of broadband service through Idaho Falls Fiber, offering residential customers download and upload speeds of 2,500 megabits per second (2.5 Gbps) beginning at $91.95 monthly. The offering marks a significant expansion of capacity on the municipally-owned, open-access fiber network that completed construction across the city in November 2024.
The 2.5 Gigabit service targets households relying on multiple connected devices simultaneously, remote workers, content creators, online gamers, and families streaming high-definition video while managing other bandwidth-intensive activities. Idaho Falls Fiber maintains the underlying fiber infrastructure across the city’s service area, while independent internet service providers deliver the actual connectivity to end users under the open-access model.
Why the City Built Its Own Fiber Network
Idaho Falls invested in its own fiber backbone to ensure all residents and businesses within the Power utility’s service footprint could access high-speed broadband regardless of whether private carriers found the market profitable. The open-access approach lets multiple internet service providers compete for customers over the same physical infrastructure, rather than locking residents into a single provider.
Chris Fredericksen, general manager of Idaho Falls Fiber, explained the long-term vision behind the project. “From the beginning, the goal was to leverage infrastructure Idaho Falls already owned to create a network that could benefit our community,” he told the city. The fiber backbone itself became a municipal asset capable of supporting residential, commercial, and institutional users across the community.
Evolving Bandwidth Demands
Internet usage patterns have shifted markedly since Idaho Falls first piloted residential fiber service on a smaller scale. “Technology and the way people use the internet have changed significantly since we first launched our residential fiber pilot,” Fredericksen noted, reflecting the jump in data consumption driven by video conferencing, 4K streaming, cloud storage, and simultaneous use by household members working or studying from home.
The 2.5 Gbps tier sits between mid-range gigabit plans and enterprise-class services, positioning it as an option for demanding residential applications without premium pricing. Symmetrical speeds—where download and upload rates match at 2,500 Mbps—benefit video creators, content producers, and telehealth professionals who need rapid file uploads.
Open-Access Model Benefits Competition
By structuring Idaho Falls Fiber as an open-access network, the city separates infrastructure ownership from retail service provision. This model encourages multiple internet service providers to offer competing packages over the same fiber lines, giving customers choice while the city recouped fiber-build costs through infrastructure fees rather than direct consumer billing.
The network coverage mirrors Idaho Falls Power’s service territory, encompassing the city proper and surrounding areas the municipal utility serves. Residential customers interested in 2.5 Gbps service can contact participating service providers to arrange installation and billing.
What Comes Next
Idaho Falls Fiber continues operating as the backbone provider for the region’s broadband infrastructure. Ongoing maintenance, potential future speed tiers, and service expansion remain under municipal management. Residents seeking details on service availability, pricing, or enrollment should contact Idaho Falls Fiber or visit the city’s official website at idahofallsidaho.gov for provider information and service terms.
The 2.5 Gigabit launch underscores how municipalities nationwide are stepping into broadband provision where market gaps persist, using public infrastructure to enable private competition rather than replacing it.