Pioneer Broadband acquires Aroostook Internet

13 years ago

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer

    HOULTON —Pioneer Broadband of Houlton has entered into an agreement to purchase Aroostook Internet of Presque Isle.
    Aroostook Internet has been providing dialup, high-speed wireless, and DSL Internet service from Mars Hill to Madawaska since 1996. Financial details of the sale were not disclosed.
    “The transition should occur almost seamlessly from a customer perspective with few exceptions related to the physical location of Aroostook Internet’s data servers,” said Tim McAfee, chief technical officer for Pioneer Broadband. “Billing and Technical Support for Aroostook Internet customers will be served from the Pioneer Broadband Operations Center in Houlton. Customers are urged to use the new contact information received in their email to ensure a smooth transition.”
    According to Don Flewelling, Pioneer Broadband account executive, the company also bought the domain name “ainop.com” with the purchase, so existing Aroostook Internet customers will not have to change their e-mail address as part of the changeover.
    “This week we will be sending an email message to all Aroostook Internet customers, welcoming them to the Pioneer Network and explaining the changes,” Flewelling said.
    The addition of the Aroostook Internet wireless access points expands Pioneer Broadband’s coverage from 50 locations to more than 80. Pioneer’s service area will now reach from the Lubec area north to Fort Kent and Madawaska.
    Pioneer Broadband is the only Internet service provider in Maine with a connection to the Canadian Internet backbone. Since 2001, high speed Internet delivery to rural Maine has been an essential part of the core business strategy for Pioneer Broadband, as well as web hosting, datacenter and IT services, McAfee said.