Network Roundup: FiberLight, Lumen, QTS, FirstLight, Zayo, Nokia

Four interesting network infrastructure projects from around the US in the last two days.

FiberLight is pouring new resources into western Texas. Years after lighting up much of the region with middle mile infrastructure for wireless backhaul and other regional projects, they are planning another 1,000 route miles to support AI demand in the region. The plans call for an investment of as much as $150M and follows recent projects in the Texas Triangle region.

QTS has tapped Lumen to connect 16 QTS campuses across the country. Lumen will be providing high capacity fiber routes, network-as-a-service and SDN capabilities, an intelligent network fabric, and a wavelength backbone. The deal expands on an existing relationship, looking to address new challenges brought by the rise of AI.

FirstLight is teaming up with Green 4 Maine to reach deep into northern Maine. FirstLight’s fiber will be connecting a new data center project on the former Loring Air Force Base in Aroostook County. That’s the northern tip of the state that you’d have to fly south of if you flew a straight line between the Canadian cities of Montreal and Halifax.

And this morning, Zayo tapped Nokia for an upgrade to its IP infrastructure. They will be deploying Nokia’s FP5 silicon 7750SR and IXR routers, with the first phase already underway in the New York/New Jersey region. From there they expect to expand the upgrade project to dozens of markets and thousands of lit buildings as they replace their existing Provider Edge infrastructure..

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Categories: Artificial Intelligence · Datacenter · Fiber Networks · Telecom Equipment