Arizona took a giant leap toward improved broadband connectivity, with local internet outfits and state authorities reaching a key deal. In recent developments, eX² Technology, alongside the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), heralded their inaugural dark fiber Indefeasible Right of Use agreement for ADOT's I-17 right of way. This milestone initiative is part of the Arizona Statewide Middle-Mile Program and represents a move to use public infrastructure to bolster high-capacity connectivity statewide.
The deal with Wecom Fiber grants them 20-year control to a 141-mile section of dark fiber, essentially setting up a bridge between Northern Arizona and Phoenix markets. This network promises significant boosts in bandwidth for areas in the vicinity, even granting access to major data centers and cloud services. “We are delivering affordable, reliable internet to people across Arizona, and today, we are closer to achieving that mission,” Arizona's Governor Katie Hobbs stated in a release, underlining the importance of internet access for the state's economic vitality.
Wecom Fiber is at the forefront of providing fiber-to-the-premises broadband across rural Arizona and is already partnered with multiple counties, including Coconino and Yavapai, and cities like Flagstaff and Prescott Valley. As per ADOT's announcement, the dark fiber will ultimately link 30,000 households and businesses along the I-17, from Phoenix to Flagstaff, with the first customers slated to be online by year's end 2025. Additionally, ADOT is extending its connectivity reach along other key routes such as I-19 and I-40 West, with an eye on future expansions to I-10 and I-8.
This commercialization of ADOT's network assets came in part from a hefty state-directed federal investment exceeding $140 million. It's a part of a broader ambition to enhance Arizona's digital framework and bridge the existing digital divide. “This agreement represents a major step forward by advancing broadband internet from the framework being established along state highways into communities where people will benefit from better access to educational opportunities, telemedicine and much more,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth observed, pointing to the transformative potential of accessible and reliable broadband.
With the contract awarded to eX² Technology in 2024, this initial Indefeasible Right of Use transaction is but the first in a succession of opportunities aimed at leveraging ADOT's network for delivering robust digital services. To find out more about the initiative and plans, interested parties can visit ADOT's broadband expansion page.
