How SDN and its member-owner companies power esports

In the world of esports, where milliseconds can make the difference between victory and defeat, a reliable and high-performance network isn’t just a luxury — it’s a necessity.

Whether gamers are playing “Fortnite” and are down to the last person for a Victory Royale or playing “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” on the final lap with a trio of red shells to help make up some lost ground, a connection delay or slowdown can make playing online a lot less fun and a lot more frustrating.

The backbone of a successful and enjoyable esports tournament and online gaming with a friend across the country is a robust and dependable network infrastructure.

SDN Communications and its 17 member-owner companies will showcase their reliable fiber internet when they host the SoDak Circuit esports event Sept. 21 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Why are the SDN member-owner companies the ideal host of an esports tournament? Here are a few reasons:

Low latency gives gamers an edge

Our fiber network is designed to minimize latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another. In esports, low latency is crucial because it directly impacts the responsiveness of game controls. With our ultra-low latency connections, players experience near-instantaneous communication with the game servers, which is vital for high-stakes competition.

Golden West Telecommunications, which serves a large portion of western South Dakota as well as communities such as Hartford and Dell Rapids, began its transition from copper connections to fiber-optic cable more than a decade ago. So far, 80% of its customers have been upgraded to fiber internet. Golden West is a sponsor of Hot Springs’ esports team.

“(Our) high-speed connection positions these areas for a positive, sustainable future,” Golden West Marketing and Communications Manager Dee Sleep said. “With fast internet speeds, residents have additional educational opportunities … and they can stream high-definition programming or play immersive video games with competitors around the world.”

High bandwidth keeps up with games

Esports games, especially those with high-definition graphics or large player counts, require substantial bandwidth to deliver smooth and uninterrupted gameplay. SDN’s fiber network provides ample bandwidth to handle the intense data demands of these games, ensuring that players experience crisp, high-quality visuals.

Golden West offers speeds between 250 Mbps up to 1 Gig, giving gamers more than enough bandwidth to secure a Victory Royale (you won’t be able to blame your internet connection, at least).

And West River Telecom, which covers parts of Corson, Walworth and Dewey counties in northern South Dakota as well as several counties in North Dakota, offers upload/download speeds up to 10 Gig a second. That’s way more than you’ll need for gaming, but internet speeds aren’t an issue for their customers as well as others of SDN member companies.

“We strive to keep our members and community connected to the outside world for education, entertainment and economic purposes,” WRT marketing manager Beth Krause said. “As WRT CEO Troy Schilling states, ‘WRT provides 100% fiber optic network to connect every home and business, as well as every farmhouse, henhouse & outhouse across our service area.’”

A reliable network for all users

Downtime or disruptions can cause frustrations for an esports event or an online match of “Rocket League” or “Valorant”. SDN’s network design emphasizes reliability and redundancy by employing advanced technologies to detect and address potential issues before they affect any event big or small – whether it’s a big presentation at work, streaming the Super Bowl or gaming online.

“Golden West continuously monitors its network and performs regular proactive maintenance for optimum performance,” Sleep said. “Even during power outages, the cooperative works to keep services running, which can include operating remote equipment on generators that require refueling as long as weather and road conditions allow.”

Diverse network paths for enhanced stability

One of the key advantages of SDN’s network is its diversity and multiple paths, which significantly enhance connection stability. Unlike traditional networks that rely on a single route for data transmission, the member-owner network is designed with multiple redundant paths.

This means that if one route encounters a problem or a disruption (such as a fiber cut), the network can automatically reroute traffic through alternate pathways, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.

For esports tournaments, where continuous and stable connections are critical, this redundancy translates into a smoother, more reliable gaming experience.

“Think of it like a circle or a highway,” SDN Network Architect Gary Glissendorf said. “There’s a south route, but there’s also a north route and they have to be different. … And there’s usually an event weekly on one of those circles. But because of the diversity and the electronics in place, people don’t even notice.”

Exceptional customer service and fast response times

SDN and its members pride themselves on delivering outstanding customer service. Our dedicated support teams are available around the clock to address any issues that may arise.

“We have a team of people who address these issues all day and every day,” said Randy Northrup, sales and marketing manager with Santel Communications based in Woonsocket. “We can access the router through the internet to help diagnose the issue, and give them recommendations for why their connection is down. And with Santel smartphone, you can control your internet through your phone. In an esports tournament from your house, you can prioritize your traffic to your computer or gaming device.”

By providing a top-tier network experience, SDN Communications is not only supporting the success of this tournament but also reinforcing a commitment to advancing the digital infrastructure of South Dakota.

“A strong, reliable network is the foundation of any great esports event, and we’re thrilled to play a role in making this weekend’s competition a memorable one,” SDN Communications Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ryan Dutton said.