Zayo has tapped Tilson to design and build its middle-mile network in Nevada, spanning over 800 miles through Reno and Nevada.
Funded by a $153 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Nevada Department of Transportation (NDoT), and the Nevada Governor's Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology (OSIT), the project aims to expand open-access fiber optic network coverage across the state, connecting over 40,000 previously underserved locations.
Middle-mile infrastructure is fiber-based broadband infrastructure that traverses major Interstate and US Highways in a state. In Nevada, the network infrastructure passes through rural population centers and rural areas, terminating in cities like Las Vegas and Reno, where Tilson will work. Tilson will engineer and deploy the middle mile fiber network across Route I-80 and down Route US-93, spanning expansive rural communities throughout Nevada.
These areas encompass high rates of unserved and underserved households, businesses, schools, and other critical community facilities needing broadband access. Construction will begin in 2025, and Tilson will continue to expand beyond its existing footprint in Las Vegas, where it has over 300 employees working on a significant fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) construction project.
Brian Mitchell, Director of the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) in Nevada, said, "OSIT is dedicated to building a statewide open-access middle mile network to enhance connectivity for underserved communities across Nevada.”
Multi-route network
Zayo’s middle mile network, which will have two routes through Reno and Las Vegas, will enable connectivity for 40,000 underserved locations, including households, schools, libraries, and community buildings:
US 93 Route through Las Vegas: This network build will include a $43.5 million investment from the NTIA Middle Mile Grant Program and $43.5 million funded by the Nevada Department of Transportation.
I-80 Route through Reno: This route includes a $66 million funded by the Department of Treasury Capital Project Funds and the State of Nevada.
This is part of the Nevada Middle Mile Network, a 2,500-mile open access, fiber network that will reach many unserved communities in Nevada.
As part of the High-Speed Nevada Initiative, construction of the middle mile network will enable OSIT to bring better connectivity to hundreds of unserved K-12 schools, libraries, State and local government facilities, and community anchor institutions in the coming years.
Enhancing rural connectivity
Zayo is building the new middle mile fiber routes with its Digital Equity Access Network (DEAN) architecture. The DEAN architecture enhances rural connectivity by lowering the barrier to entry for rural ISPs to build last-mile infrastructure. It provides pre-provisioned, dedicated fiber backhaul and competitive IP pricing that matches metro market rates.
With multiple interconnection points pre-built into the network, Zayo said it is “making connecting to our middle mile more affordable for ISPs.”
The service provider’s work with Nevada reflects its work developing new middle-mile networks. Previously, it was awarded $92.9 million as part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Middle Mile Grant Program.
Zayo uses the funding to build middle mile networks in several states to support education, telemedicine, and public safety communication. Some key middle mile routes include Oregon – California – Nevada, El Paso to Dallas, and Dallas to Atlanta.
Middle mile builds have been a critical priority for Zayo. Since 2018, the service provider has built and operated over 4,000 new route miles of long-haul fiber routes across 17 states.
Further, its acquisition of Education Networks of America (ENA) in 2021 made it the largest independent provider of K-12 E-rate services, connecting almost 20,000 schools in the U.S.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.