At Midwest Fiber Networks, we believe in transparency, innovation, and continued growth. Here you’ll find company announcements, service updates, and industry news as we expand our high-performance fiber network across the Midwest and beyond.
Midwest Fiber Networks Expands Market Reach with Strategic Acquisition of Everstream’s All-Fiber Network in Illinois
Milwaukee, WI — May 19, 2025
Midwest Fiber Networks (MWFN), a leading provider of high-capacity, fiber-based communication networks, and Everstream, a business-only fiber network, today announced that MWFN has acquired Everstream’s all-fiber network in the Illinois region. This strategic move, executed through Lakefront Fiber, LLC—a joint venture between MWFN and Manulife Investment Management—advances MWFN’s ongoing efforts to improve service options for customers by adding nearly 650 route miles to its expanding national network. The new footprint will be integrated with MWFN’s robust Midwest network, delivering enhanced capacity, state-of-the-art fiber connectivity, and customer-focused technology solutions to a broader market.
“This acquisition marks an exciting milestone in our mission to bring powerful, competitive fiber solutions to more communities,” said Nik Ivancevic, Managing Partner of Midwest Fiber Networks. “By acquiring Everstream’s Illinois assets, we reaffirm our commitment to providing responsive customer service to our growing customer base. We’re excited to welcome Everstream’s Illinois-based customers to the MWFN family.”
MWFN is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for customers, who will immediately gain access to its broader service footprint and suite of customer service offerings. MWFN’s network features the latest in IP, Ethernet, and Dark Fiber architecture, along with a comprehensive range of managed and customized services.
This market expansion follows a series of recent network investments and partnerships that continue to solidify MWFN’s role as a regional leader in fiber connectivity. Backed by years of industry expertise and strategic infrastructure capabilities, MWFN is accelerating its growth trajectory to better serve businesses, institutions, and communities across the Midwest.
Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. (BGL) served as financial advisor, and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. and Keller & Heckman, LLP acted as legal and regulatory counsel to Midwest Fiber Networks for this transaction.
About Midwest Fiber Networks
Midwest Fiber Networks (MWFN) designs and delivers secure, high-speed fiber connectivity across the Midwest with a focus on reliability, redundancy, and customer satisfaction. With deep roots in telecommunications infrastructure and decades of experience, MWFN supports mission-critical operations for businesses, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and government entities. Through strategic partnerships and a rapidly growing footprint, MWFN is building the future of fiber—one mile at a time. For more information, visit midwestfibernetworks.com.
About Everstream®
Everstream has raised the bar for business connectivity, delivering a business-only fiber network with the speed, reliability, scale and performance that today’s enterprises demand. With more than 27,500 route miles of fiber and speeds up to 100 Gbps, Everstream’s enterprise-grade network delivers robust business fiber services, including dedicated internet access, dark fiber, Ethernet and data center solutions. Through its “Do What You Say You Will Do” approach, Everstream is a valued partner dedicated to the success of business customers. For more information, visit everstream.net.
About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management
As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.