California hands Lumen $400 million for middle mile network build

The California Department of Technology (CDT) will pay Lumen Technologies $400 million to build out 1,900 miles of network infrastructure as part of the state’s Middle Mile Broadband Initiative. The Lumen award represents two of 11 total leases, joint-build or purchase agreements from the CDT with several companies that will contribute to the initiative’s open access middle-mile network. Open access networks, which are deployed by one company and leased to multiple internet service providers (ISPs), are starting to gain traction in the U.S. The middle mile is the portion of networks that connects the last mile (connection to homes or businesses) with the network backbone (transmission lines linking global internet networks). Lumen will be pulling new 288 count fiber into existing conduit on behalf of the state for the entire 1,900 miles. This will bring open-access middle mile connectivity by Lumen to “hundreds of California communities by the end of 2026,” according to the company.