Q2 was another game-changing quarter for Zayo as we race to provide the agility and bandwidth our customers need to succeed in an ever-changing, AI-driven tech landscape.
In the past quarter, we made significant strides in our efforts to build the foundation for AI, breaking ground on three of our purpose-built fiber routes to connect key AI hubs. Our North American core Wavelength network reached 100% 400G-enablement in Q2, allowing us to deliver the capacity, speed, and scalability required to support bandwidth-intensive applications like AI. Additionally, we introduced new IP PoPs, expanded our list of Quick Connect Data Centers, and enhanced fiber monitoring.
Let’s dive into what these updates mean for your business.
Fueling the Future of AI
In addition to providing the capacity needed to support emerging technologies like AI, we’re building routes specifically to meet AI where it’s going.
In the second quarter, we broke ground on three of our new long-haul dark fiber routes. These routes are part of our planned 5,000 new route miles, which we’re purpose-building to support growing AI demand. As the only provider to build long-haul infrastructure at scale in the past decade, Zayo is delivering on our promise to fuel the future of AI.
Here’s where we’ve broken ground:
Chicago to Columbus
This 385-mile, low-latency route will provide connectivity to all major data centers in both metro areas and provide a critical corridor between two of the hottest hyperscale markets in the U.S.
Chicago to Minneapolis
505 miles long and built with ultra-high fiber counts, this route offers direct connections to Chicago, Columbus, and our Spread network route.
Phoenix to Tucson
These Arizona hot spots are among the fastest-growing AI corridors in the Southwest. Our 123-mile high-capacity route will offer direct connections from these key cities to three other in-progress builds, including Tucson to El Paso, El Paso to Dallas, and El Paso to Mexico.
The Capacity to Take On What’s Next
Since introducing 400G Wavelengths to our suite of market-leading network solutions in 2021, Zayo has seen an uptick in 400G adoption. As forward-looking enterprises, carriers, and hyperscalers prepare for the future and take on new technologies, they increasingly seek higher-capacity, lower-latency solutions like 400G Waves. 2024 was the first year that 400G Wavelengths accounted for the most terabits of wave capacity purchased by Zayo customers, compared to smaller bandwidth options like 100G and 10G waves.
We’re upgrading our core network according to this trend. Today, we’re proud to announce that our North American wavelength network is 100% 400G-enabled. With 400G Wavelengths providing more bandwidth and faster speeds, often at a reduced cost-per-bit, future-focused companies can confidently take advantage of emerging technologies now and in the future.
Faster Turn-Up, More Capacity, and Improved Reliability
In addition to our new AI routes and reaching 100% 400G-enablement, we’ve made significant strides in expanding our network and capabilities to better serve our customers in the past quarter.
This includes adding new Points of Presence (PoPs), designed to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity. In Q2, we introduced seven new IP PoPs and two 400G-enabled PoPs in Montreal and Chicago, ensuring improved network performance in these growing regions.
On top of that, we now have over 100 Quick Connect Data Centers, including 27 added in Q2, which allow customers to activate IP and Ethernet services in as little as 10 days. These upgrades mean faster, more seamless delivery and greater scalability in our most popular and strategic data center locations.
Finally, we added 58.4 Tb of optical capacity in Q2, bringing our total capacity to 350 Tbs. This strengthens our network’s ability to handle the massive volumes of data at high speeds that AI and other emerging technologies generate and transmit. We also expanded our fiber monitoring capabilities in the last quarter to include 13,000 total route miles. This capability makes it easier to detect faults or breaches, improving our ability to maintain uptime and restore service as quickly as possible.
Zayo remains committed to empowering businesses with the capacity, speed, and reliability needed to be agile and thrive in an AI-driven world. With our 100% 400G-enabled North American core network, purpose-built AI routes, expanded Points of Presence, and growing Quick Connect Data Center network, we’re staying ahead of what’s next – and ensuring our customers can, too. Whether you’re preparing for the demands of AI, scaling your operations, or future-proofing your infrastructure, Zayo is here to deliver the solutions that position your business for success.