Eleven local exchange carriers (LECs) in New Mexico have banded together to create NM Fiber Network, LLC. Formed at the behest of the New Mexico Broadband Initiative Consortium, The new company aims to leverage their existing infrastructure as well as new fiber deployments to create a statewide fiber backbone to support broadband efforts backed by funding from The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
The companies that have joined to create NM Fiber Network include:
- Baca Valley Telephone Company, Inc.
- Dell Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- ENMR Telephone Cooperative
- La Jicarita Rural Telephone Cooperative
- Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- Roosevelt County Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- Sacred Wind Communications, Inc.
- Tularosa Communications, Inc.
- Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc.
"NM Fiber Network and current owner-member fiber systems span thousands of miles across New Mexico and are well-positioned to enable the expansion and extension of New Mexico middle-mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas," stated Josh Beug, general manager, Tularosa Basin Telephone Cooperative.
"The state fiber broadband network is crucial to providing middle mile and broadband access to all areas of New Mexico," added John Badal, spokesman for the New Mexico Broadband Initiative Consortium and CEO of Sacred Wind Communications, Inc.
NM Fiber Network will partner with rural and underserved fiber network specialist INDATEL in the creation of the new network infrastructure, an effort expected to take several years and cost multiple millions of dollars. The companies say NM Fiber Network will focus on enabling high-speed fiber-optic backbone capabilities to themselves and other telecommunications providers and direct business customers such as hospitals, schools, and government agencies.
"We are pleased that NM Fiber Network is establishing a statewide network in New Mexico and will collaborate with us," INDATEL Services CEO Mel Wagner Jr. said. "We are happy to work with and assist NM Fiber Network in monetizing and expanding its network. In addition, because of their state network, INDATEL is an essential partner for rural ILECs as INDATEL's footprint extends across much of the United States."
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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