Northwoods Connect offers internet alternative

By Jared Raney
Reporter

The new internet service started by local brothers Matt and Paul Osterman is an early success, and plans to expand are growing.

In just a few months, Northwoods Connect is about to cement plans on a third tower near the town of Lynne.

“We’ve put people on that have never had internet before,” said Paul Osterman. “We want to eventually cover the entire northern part of Wisconsin.”

Their success isn’t surprising considering the brothers’ history.

Matt has a degree in scientific and technical communications. He’s had what he calls a “schizophrenic career,” working on anything from tech consulting and marketing to Hollywood film-making. An “entrepreneur by trade,” according to his brother.

And Paul’s background is just as interesting. Four nearly a decade Paul honed his tech skills as a Marine Corps tech, with five years in special operations and over a year contracting for the Department of Defense. Needless to say it’s a history that lends itself to the internet business.

“We were chasing terrorists, I guess you could say, through communications,” Paul said. “So I learned the in and outs, I learned how these systems are vulnerable, that was the great thing—now I know where the vulnerabilities are so I can protect the average customer.”

Northwoods Connect is a new kind of internet service, revolutionary in its way, by using wireless receivers that are more comparable to smart-phone service than your typical broadband. But unlike your phone, this service has no data limit, and can provide speeds comparable to or faster than DSL.

“It’s been amazing doing this, especially with my brother, that we get to work together,” Matt said. “That’s been really fun for me. And then also to deliver service to people that really need it… So that’s really neat, and makes it more than just a job.”

“It’s a local company, that’s what we want to emphasize” Paul said. “When you call you’re going to be talking to me… we have a bunch of testimonials on our website, and people are pretty happy with our service.”

For more information on Northwoods Connect, and to see if you can get better internet, go to their website at northwoodsconnect.com.