Weaving a Digital Lifeline: How Collaborative Fiber Rewires New Mexico

RICHARDSON, TX – August 25, 2026 – In the vast, rugged landscapes of New Mexico, a quiet but profound transformation is underway. It’s not a new highway or a physical pipeline, but a digital one—a sprawling middle-mile fiber network that promises to bring the modern economy to every corner of the state. In a significant milestone for this effort, 1Finity, a Fujitsu company, has announced the expansion and upgrade of this critical infrastructure, powered by its advanced open networking technology. This isn't just a corporate contract; it's a pivotal chapter in New Mexico's ambitious quest to erase its digital divide.

The project is a cornerstone of the NM Fiber Network (NMFN), a unique entity that embodies the spirit of the challenge it seeks to solve. Against the backdrop of a historic $675 million federal investment from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, this expansion represents the convergence of innovative technology, collaborative community action, and forward-thinking policy.

A Blueprint Forged in Collaboration

At the heart of this initiative is the NM Fiber Network itself, an organization that stands as a potential blueprint for other states grappling with rural connectivity. NMFN is not a single corporation but a strategic coalition of nine local exchange telecommunication companies, many of which are cooperatives with deep roots in the communities they serve. Members like Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative, Sacred Wind Communications, and Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative bring a combined expertise measured in centuries and a nuanced understanding of New Mexico’s diverse geography and population.

This collaborative model aggregates thousands of miles of regional fiber assets, transforming a patchwork of disparate networks into a cohesive, statewide backbone. “Aggregating the combined infrastructure and expertise of our member companies, NMFN and its owner-members are strategically positioned to drive continued technological and economic growth throughout New Mexico,” said Jerimiah Cole, Chief Operating Officer of NM Fiber Network. This structure allows the group to tackle a challenge that was too large for any single member: building a resilient, high-capacity middle-mile architecture capable of serving the entire state.

This collective approach is vital in a state where, until recently, connectivity has been a story of haves and have-nots. The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE), established in 2021, has made remarkable progress, helping raise high-speed internet access from 72% to 91% of the population. But reaching the final, most remote 9% requires precisely this kind of innovative, ground-up partnership.

The Technology Powering the Connection

To weave these disparate networks together, NMFN required a technological solution that was not only powerful but also exceptionally flexible. They found it in 1Finity's IP over DWDM (IPoDWDM) architecture. This approach represents a significant shift in network design, integrating IP routing functions directly into the optical transport layer. The result is a simpler, more efficient, and more powerful network that reduces complexity and cost.

At the core of 1Finity's offering is its commitment to an open and disaggregated model. Instead of relying on a single, proprietary system, the network is built using components from a specialized ecosystem of partners. This includes open hardware from UfiSpace and sophisticated network operating system software from IP Infusion. This modularity prevents vendor lock-in and gives NMFN the flexibility to adapt and grow.

“Our open, flexible 1Finity architecture empowers NMFN to achieve seamless interconnection and performance across a diverse network footprint,” explained Hideki Matsui, Sr. Vice President at 1Finity, Inc. “With high reliability and performance, the NMFN carrier-grade, unified network enables network operator members to maximize reach, efficiency and service consistency, supporting mission-critical applications throughout the state and bringing enhanced services to rural communities.”

The deployed system is built for the future. While it currently delivers scalable services from 1G to 400G, the infrastructure has a clear upgrade path to 800G and beyond. This ensures that as the demands of data-driven industries, telehealth, and next-generation educational tools grow, New Mexico’s digital backbone will be ready to handle the load.

From Middle-Mile to Main Street

The true impact of this technical achievement will be measured not in gigabits per second, but in the opportunities it unlocks on Main Streets, in classrooms, and in clinics across the state. A middle-mile network is the digital highway system that allows last-mile internet service providers to build the local roads that connect directly to homes, businesses, and community institutions.

For New Mexico’s rural and Tribal communities, this is a lifeline. Reliable high-speed internet is the foundation for modern economic development, enabling small businesses to access global markets and supporting remote work opportunities. It transforms healthcare by making robust telehealth services possible, a critical need in a state with vast distances between population centers. It also underpins educational equity; initiatives like the Statewide Education Network, which aims to connect all K-12 schools by 2027, rely on this underlying infrastructure to deliver digital learning resources to every student.

As Jerimiah Cole of NMFN noted, the goal is to provide customers with “a robust, future-ready platform built on carrier-grade optical solutions.” This platform is the enabler. It empowers local hospitals to transmit large medical imaging files, allows agricultural businesses to leverage IoT technology for precision farming, and gives a student in a remote pueblo the same access to information as one in Albuquerque. By driving down the cost of connectivity, the NMFN project makes it economically viable for providers to finally reach the unserved and underserved, fulfilling the ultimate promise of the state's significant broadband investments.