123NET’s $11M fiber network enhances Michigan’s middle mile, last mile connectivity options
123NET has started a new long-haul fiber route connecting Grand Rapids and Lansing, the latest move the provider is making to help extend broadband into more parts of the state.
The $11 million investment spans approximately 83 miles of high-density fiber, improving service and accessibility in the two cities and countless communities, businesses, and residents along the route.
Already, 123NET has built a 3,100-route-mile network, including a long-haul and dense metro fiber network in Michigan’s largest cities.
Enhancing Middle Mile connectivity
This latest project is just one of several investments 123NET has made to build a new middle-mile infrastructure in West Michigan.
"This expansion represents a pivotal moment as it connects Grand Rapids with Lansing and serves as the essential final segment in our broader project linking Detroit and Chicago," said Chuck Irvin, 123NET's Chief Revenue Officer. "This segment closes the final gap, ensuring a continuous high-capacity fiber route along a newly diversified path between cities.
123NET’s efforts on the middle and last mile are centered on bringing new broadband connectivity to underserved and unserved areas.
Previously, the provider participated in the NTIA Middle Mile Grant program, awarded ROBIN grants for deployments in Allegan and Ottawa counties, constructed a fiber network in downtown Kalamazoo, and launched the innovative Grand Rapids Internet Exchange.
In June 2023, 123NET announced it would participate in a $87.5 million middle-mile fiber infrastructure project in Michigan. The Infrastructure for Michigan's Peninsula and Critical Crossings (IMPACT) project was submitted in September 2022, with PFN (Peninsula Fiber Networks) as the lead recipient and 123NET as a sub-recipient.
As part of that build, the provider installed two new fiber cables constructed under Lake Michigan to connect 123NET's Data Center in Grand Rapids, MI to a key connectivity hub in Chicago.
This latest build in Michigan will provide an updated network that will link its broader project.
An existing fiber route connecting Grand Rapids and Lansing has several drawbacks: it is over twenty years old, has a limited number of fibers, and includes extensive aerial segments.
"Rather than simply following the shortest path between Grand Rapids and Lansing, it will extend north and south to reach underserved and unserved communities," said Irvin. "It also features brand-new, high-count fiber capable of significantly higher transmission rates, ample strands and spare capacity to meet Michigan's connectivity needs for decades and will be nearly 100% underground."
Community BEAD approach
Like other competitive providers, 123NET is keen to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
As of 2023, nearly 500,000 households were deemed unserved or underserved by broadband internet infrastructure, and another 730,000 households face barriers related to a combination of affordability, adoption, device access, and digital literacy.
In August 2023, the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) completed the BEAD State Challenge Process to determine the unserved and underserved locations eligible for BEAD funding.
The provider is applying for BEAD grant funding to bring last-mile connectivity to residents along this network path.
It is working with several Michigan communities to pursue BEAD funding. Michigan was allocated $1.5 billion to increase affordable broadband internet availability.
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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.