Over the past decade, the division has grown its products to include offering internet, television and phone. Today, it services more than 60 small communities in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.

The Astrea name better reflects the efforts to expand reliable, high-speed internet offerings to more rural households and businesses.

“We weren’t purchased or acquired,” said Cory Heigl, vice president. “We’re still 100% employee-owned and continue to be part of the CCI System family. We just wanted an identity that we can continue to grow into, because we’ll never stop making life better for the people we serve.”

The Astrea division is headquartered in Iron Mountain, within the CCI Systems building on Kent Street, and will maintain retail store locations in Crivitz and Oconto Falls, Wis.; and Sault Ste. Marie in the U.P.

Astrea most recently expanded into the eastern Upper Peninsula after acquiring Lighthouse.Net in 2018.

Astrea helps small communities connect to family, health care, work, education and entertainment while maintaining the rural lifestyle.

“We provide internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit in places other companies can’t or won’t service. Best of all, our entire operation is run by people who enjoy small-town life just as much as the households and businesses we serve,” Heigl said.

“People aren’t going to get excited about a name change — we get that,” he said. “But they will enjoy being able to work from home in the winter more reliably, stream Netflix and YouTube more smoothly, and reach out to loved ones all without endless buffering. Welcome to Astrea.”

To learn more about Astrea or find out where its services are available, go online to astreaconnect.com.

CCI Systems provides services across the network, delivering cutting-edge technologies in partnership with progressive engineers and industry leaders related to converged IP and optical networks, access and media, mobility, data center and cybersecurity.

For more information, go to www.ccisystems.com.