Surfnet’s 2025 Year in Review

A Big Year for Fiber, Community, and the Santa Cruz Mountains

If 2025 had a theme at Surfnet, it would be this: building for the long haul. From mountaintop fiber builds to parking-lot celebrations and behind-the-scenes resilience upgrades, this year marked a turning point for high-speed internet in some of California’s most underserved rural communities.

Here’s a look back at what made 2025 such a landmark year for Surfnet Communications — and for the communities we serve.

Broadband Became a Top Regional Priority

In 2025, broadband access wasn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it was widely recognized as essential infrastructure.

Local and state leaders doubled down on closing the digital divide, especially in rural areas where slow or unreliable internet has long limited access to education, healthcare, remote work, and civic participation. Santa Cruz County’s broadband master planning efforts, paired with California’s multi-billion-dollar investment in statewide connectivity, set the stage for meaningful progress.

Surfnet was proud to be part of this momentum alongside other local providers, helping turn plans and funding into real, boots-on-the-ground infrastructure.

Phase 1 Complete: Fiber Arrives in the Mountains

One of the biggest milestones of the year came with the completion of Phase 1 of Surfnet’s rural fiber expansion in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

After years of planning, permitting, and construction, high-speed fiber internet officially went live for mountain communities east of Highway 17 — bringing modern connectivity to areas that had previously relied on limited DSL, cable, or wireless options.

To mark the moment, Surfnet joined residents and local leaders at the Summit Store for a community celebration — a fitting location at the heart of the mountains.

Speakers included Surfnet leadership and representatives from the California Public Utilities Commission, California Broadband Alliance, and Santa Cruz County, all highlighting the importance of long-term, reliable internet access for rural communities.

As Surfnet leadership shared that day: fiber isn’t just faster — it’s the foundation for the future.

 A Unique Partnership Model That Works

One standout story from 2025 was the innovative partnership behind the fiber network itself.

Through collaboration with the California Broadband Alliance, the fiber infrastructure is owned by a nonprofit and leased to Surfnet for 50 years. This model helped unlock critical grant funding and allowed a locally owned ISP to compete with much larger national providers — all while keeping the focus on community benefit rather than short-term returns.

It’s a model designed to scale, with future expansions already being explored in additional mountain and rural areas.

 

Phase 2 Is Already Underway

While Phase 1 was worth celebrating, 2025 didn’t stop there.

Construction for Phase 2 began west of Highway 17, expanding fiber deeper into the mountains and reaching additional roads and neighborhoods. For many residents, this marked the first time fiber construction crews had ever come down their street.

Each new mile of fiber brings the region closer to a fully connected future — one built to handle growing demand for remote work, online learning, telehealth, and local businesses.

Building for Resilience, Not Just Speed

Behind the scenes, Surfnet’s crews were focused on something just as important as speed: reliability.

Mountain living comes with challenges — storms, power outages, fallen trees, and mudslides are a fact of life. In 2025, Surfnet invested heavily in infrastructure designed to keep customers connected even when conditions are less than ideal:

  • Multiple wireless access points to provide automatic backup if fiber lines are damaged

  • Faster wireless service powered by new fiber backbone connections

  • Upgraded battery systems at fiber nodes, providing 3–5 days of backup power

  • Additional generators at wireless tower sites

  • Partnerships with customers to install power walls and solar-backed battery systems near critical network hubs

The result? A network designed to withstand both everyday use and unexpected disruptions.

 

From “Jerry-Rigged” to Future-Proof

During this year’s fiber celebration, Surfnet leadership reflected on how far things have come — from early days of improvised equipment setups to today’s professionally engineered, grant-funded fiber network.

That evolution is a direct result of long-term commitment, local knowledge, and a belief that rural communities deserve the same quality of service as urban ones.