How the
Northwest Connects

NoaNet’s 2Tbps Upgrade: Connecting Washington State for a High-Speed Future

In the ever-changing world of telecommunications, infrastructure upgrades are crucial to ensuring that communities have access to reliable and high-speed internet services. NoaNet is gearing up to achieve a groundbreaking milestone – the provision of a two terabit per second (2Tbps) connection for one of their wholesale customers. This project underscores the power of open access publicly owned networks in bringing cutting-edge technology to serve Washington State.

The primary aim of this project is to establish a 2Tbps dedicated wavelength capacity between two strategically important and geographically diverse sites within Washington State. This impressive capacity equates to an astonishing 2Tbps of full-duplex transport capability, promising a significant leap in data transfer capabilities.

To put it into perspective, a single terabit per second (1Tbps) is equivalent to transmitting 500 hours of high-definition video per second.

Therefore, this impressive capacity equates to an astonishing 1,000 hours of high-definition video streaming every second, promising a significant leap in data transfer capabilities.
Anticipation is growing as this ambitious project is poised to go live before Thanksgiving. Teams have diligently worked since early September to ensure a smooth and timely implementation.

Use Cases for Enhanced Data Transport

The advantages of this enhanced data transport capacity are multifaceted and far-reaching. Let’s break down how a 2Tbps connection can be leveraged to benefit various aspects of connectivity:

Expanding Access: By strengthening the network’s capacity, particularly in remote areas, more communities gain access to high-speed internet services. This helps bridge the digital divide, ensuring that even underserved regions can enjoy fast and reliable internet access. Whether it’s small towns, universities, or bustling business districts, a 2Tbps connection can accommodate a large number of users simultaneously, offering gigabit or multi-gigabit internet speeds.

Higher Speeds: Faster internet speeds are essential for a range of activities, from business operations to educational endeavors and entertainment. This project guarantees that both residents and enterprises can partake in higher-speed online activities. For instance, high-performance computing clusters utilized in scientific research can significantly benefit from a 2Tbps connection, allowing researchers to process and analyze vast datasets more rapidly. Similarly, schools, colleges, and universities can tap into this high-capacity connection to support online learning, deliver video lectures, and facilitate research activities for students and faculty.

New Content Delivery: The increased capacity opens the door to delivering higher-definition content, such as video streaming and online gaming, with exceptional quality and reliability. This enhancement enriches the digital experiences of users across the state, providing them with immersive entertainment and interactive gaming options.

IoT and Smart Cities: In the realm of the Internet of Things (IoT), a 2Tbps connection is invaluable. It can efficiently handle the massive data traffic generated by sensors and devices in smart cities, ensuring seamless data processing and informed decision-making. This capability is crucial for optimizing city infrastructure, services, and resource management.

Supporting State Policy Goals: Washington State’s ambitious policy goals for internet connectivity receive substantial support through this project. Implementing a 2Tbps connection signifies a significant stride toward aligning with these objectives, thereby improving the overall quality of life for its citizens.

As the project inches closer to completion and the network becomes operational, it will empower communities, bridge regional gaps, and drive economic growth. Moreover, it will foster digital inclusion, bringing Washington one step closer to realizing its broadband policy objectives. This collaborative endeavor serves as a testament to the paramount importance of robust and scalable network infrastructure in our modern age. Together, NoaNet and their partners are shaping a digital future for Washington State, redefining what’s possible with 2 terabits of capacity at their disposal.