Fiber network infrastructure provider FiberLight has announced an investment of $20 million for a 100-mile fiber optic infrastructure project along State Highway (SH) 130, near Austin, Texas.
According to FiberLight, the collaboration with the Autonomy Institute will create the region’s first intelligent infrastructure economic zone.
The project will see FiberLight provide high-speed 10 and 100GB connectivity to the Public Infrastructure Network Nodes (PINNs) across approximately 92 miles of SH 130 to support the development, installation, and software needed to manage autonomous systems.
Autonomous Institute aims to accelerate the shift towards more intelligent networks, with a key focus on autonomy and AI at the Edge.
The institute works with a number of organizations including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Nvidia, Supermicro, Raytheon, Cisco, Terrascale, Syndeo Cities, Arnouse Digital Devices, Compass Datacenters, Ericsson, Resilient, Truweather Solutions, and Above Robotics.
“To realize the goal for safe and reliable use of automated vehicles, fiber optic placement – delivered by PINNS – is critical," said Bill Major, CEO of FiberLight.
"For this project, our fiber infrastructure will deliver 10 and 100GB connectivity of capacity or more to each of the more than 240 PINNs, situated every 2,000 feet, across State Highway 130, and provide a resilient solution that will drive economic expansion and job growth for the region.”
Once the SH 130 project is finalized, FiberLight notes that its network "will support autonomous mobility districts, public safety, and response, as well as distributed work centers."
The company adds that in the future, the advanced spatial computing capabilities from the endeavor will enable autonomous cars, trucks, and drones, plus AR/VR and other Edge computing applications.
FiberLight has an extensive footprint across the US, as it operates in more than 430 cities in the US, with approximately 17,000 route miles of fiber networks and 230,000 pre-qualified near-net buildings.
The firm, which provides a range of services including Ethernet, dark fiber, and wireless backhaul services, was acquired by a consortium led by Morrison & Co last year.
The consortium, led by funds managed by global infrastructure investment firm H.R.L. Morrison & Co, Australian Retirement Trust (ART), and a managed client of UBS Asset Management, announced the finalization in April, immediately installing Major as CEO.
