HickoryTech Achieves 10,000 Digital TV Subscribers Milestone

Monday, October 18th, 2010
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Company’s Telecom operations drive broadband growth

MANKATO, Minn. — HickoryTech Corporation (Nasdaq: HTCO) announced today it has surpassed 10,000 Digital TV subscribers. This milestone demonstrates HickoryTech’s long-term commitment and success in growing its broadband services throughout southern Minnesota.

“We’re proud of our broadband expansion and excited to reach this Digital TV milestone,” said Damon Dutz, president of HickoryTech’s Consumer and Network Solutions Division. “On behalf of our entire HickoryTech team, we appreciate the loyalty of our customers and are committed to providing competitive broadband services and outstanding local support to our neighbors and friends in the communities we serve.”

HickoryTech’s telecom markets continue to be an important part of its operations as the company has evolved from being a fixed wireline provider to being a competitive broadband service provider. Since 2005, HickoryTech has achieved a compound average growth rate of 32 percent with its Digital TV subscribers as the company expanded to new communities and enhanced its Digital TV service offering.

In May, HickoryTech expanded its Digital TV services to Vernon Center, Minn. and Garden City, Minn. In August, the company launched Digital TV services in Madison Lake, Minn. and will add Digital TV services in Good Thunder, Minn. in late October, expanding its Digital TV service area to 18 southern Minnesota communities.

Since 2008, HickoryTech has further expanded its service capabilities with Digital Video Recorder (DVR), more than 50 High Definition (HD) channels and an exclusive interactive media service with on-demand weather and news now available in 13 communities. HickoryTech continues to enhance its Digital TV content by adding more channels, including the recent addition of NFL Network.

Digital TV is not the only broadband growth driver for HickoryTech. The company’s high-speed DSL subscribers have increased 51 percent in the past five years driven by increased market penetration. HickoryTech has just under 20,000 DSL subscribers and offers speeds up to 20 Mbps.