Facebook lays fiber across the entire state of Indiana

Facebook is laying fiber across the width of Indiana to connect a couple of its own data centers, and it will lease excess capacity on the fiber to telcos or other providers that are interested. Facebook has completed the first phase of the build, laying over 77 miles of fiber to connect the I-70 corridor from the Indiana/Ohio border to downtown Indianapolis. Phase One was 100% funded by Facebook via its wholly-owned subsidiary Middle Mile Infrastructure. The 77 miles of fiber that runs from Interstate Highway 70 at the Indiana/Ohio border through Marion, Hancock, Henry, and Wayne Counties to downtown Indianapolis will connect Facebook’s data centers in Iowa and Nebraska to its East Coast cluster in Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina. The social media company is also planning a second phase with its partner Zayo. Phase Two will include a new 85-mile build that will connect downtown Indianapolis to the Illinois state line. Phase Two will head west from Indianapolis through Vigo, Clay, Putnam, Hendricks and Marion Counties. Both phases are slated to be complete by the end of 2021, at which time Indiana will have a fiber route via Facebook that spans the state from east to west.