Indiana internet service providers and co-ops band together to offer statewide middle mile fiber

Local telecoms and cooperatives continue to organize to improve connectivity in their states, with Indiana becoming the latest hub of activity. A group of 17 internet service providers and cooperatives formed Hoosier Net, a consortium which aims to leverage members’ fiber assets to offer statewide middle mile infrastructure. Indiana previously had a statewide fiber provider called Intelligent Fiber Network which boasted more than 5,000 route miles of infrastructure. However, that company was acquired by Zayo Group in 2021. Hoosier Net plans to offer a range of services, including Ethernet transport from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps, direct internet access up to 10G, dark fiber, 10G or 100G wavelength services and cell site backhaul. Services will be offered to its owner-members, telecommunications providers and direct commercial clients including hospitals, schools and government institutions. But the group is also looking to make connections outside of Indiana as well. One of its founding members is Independents Fiber Network, a subsidiary of Ohio-based Com Net, Inc (CNI) which was established in 2003 to help provide backhaul to rural and underserved communities in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. CNI CEO Rob Shema has been tapped to lead Hoosier Net.