Lumen has been tapped by the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion to provide 900 miles of high-speed fiber connectivity to K-12 public schools around the state, including charter and tribal schools.
The telco recently participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony today with state education and broadband officials at Albuquerque's 21st Century Public Academy, which is the first school to be connected to the New Mexico Statewide Education Network.
Ovidiu Viorica, Statewide Education Network Broadband and Technology Manager, said in a prepared statement that New Mexico's agreement with Lumen "demonstrates its commitment to technology in schools and to developing a powerful, collaborative, and creative learning environment for students."
A multi-faceted network
Lumen provides the New Mexico Statewide Education Network with low-latency fiber-based wavelength technology, backbone circuits, and network nodes.
It is also offering centralized network design, management and support to the new school-focused broadband network.
The three-year contract, worth more than $4.3 million during the first phase, will securely link about 15,000 students at all 27 public schools in the Gadsden Independent School District in Santa Teresa, N.M., and at three charter schools in Albuquerque: 21st Century Public Academy, Mark Armijo Academy, and Mountain Mahogany Community School.
Middle mile foundation
The new network is garnering attention.
Already, dozens of public schools across New Mexico have signed on to be part of the Statewide Education Network, which plans to interconnect all New Mexico schools by 2027.
But perhaps even more compelling is this effort will lay the foundation for a state-coordinated middle mile network.
Middle-mile connectivity is critical to digital inclusivity, equity, and affordability because it bridges the gap to the last-mile broadband providers that connect homes and businesses to the internet.
"Lumen is taking an innovative middle-mile approach to addressing digital inclusion and creating pioneering public-private partnerships that help bridge the digital divide," said Michelle Watson, vice president of Lumen's State, Local and Education business.
Lumen’s role in helping communities develop middle mile networks is not just relegated to New Mexico.
Last October, Lumen was awarded an over $400 million middle mile fiber contract from the State of California Department of Technology.
The investment in California will bring open-access, middle-mile connectivity by Lumen to hundreds of California communities by the end of 2026.
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