Responding to growing AI demand, Zayo announced that its North American core network is now fully 400G-enabled. The global communications infrastructure provider also revealed significant upgrades to its AI-ready infrastructure, including the launch of three new purpose-built long-haul dark fiber routes designed specifically for AI applications.

Figure 1. Zayo Enables 400G Across North America Network

Building the Foundation for AI with Strategic Fiber Expansions

Expanding long-haul fiber infrastructure is critical to meet the surging demand for AI. Zayo has recently initiated construction on three new routes specifically designed to address this need, using detailed market analysis to ensure they cater to both current requirements and future AI growth. Figure 1 shows Zayo Enables 400G Across North America Network.

Zayo is expanding its AI-optimized infrastructure with three new purpose-built long-haul fiber routes:

• Chicago to Columbus: A 385-mile low-latency route connecting major data centers, boosting high-throughput AI workloads between two leading hyperscale markets.
• Chicago to Minneapolis: A new 521-mile dark fiber route with ultra-high fiber capacity, linking AI data hubs and integrating with Zayo’s existing AI corridors.
• Phoenix to Tucson: A 123-mile high-capacity route connecting major Southwest data centers, set to integrate with future builds extending to El Paso, Dallas, and Mexico to support rising AI demand.

These projects are key elements of Zayo’s multi-year plan to build the long-haul fiber infrastructure required for next-generation AI [1]. In January, Zayo pledged to add over 5,000 new route miles of long-haul fiber to meet the anticipated 2 to 6-fold growth in AI demand by 2030.

References:

1. https://www.lightreading.com/optical-networking/zayo-says-its-north-america-network-is-400g-enabled

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), Zayo Announces 400G Enablement Across North America Network, AnaTechMaz, pp. 202