123Net HQ.JPG

123Net, a The largest high speed fixed wireless, voice, and data provider for businesses in Michigan, is headquartered in Southfield. (Courtesy | Ihor Diachenko)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

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123Net has begun a major expansion of its West Michigan fiber network system.

The Michigan firm plans to spend $15 million to add 25 miles of high capacity fiber in downtown Grand Rapids and two separate 10 mile fiber rings reaching out to the northeast and northwest Kent County communities.

The combined 45 miles of new fiber will connect with 123Net's local data centers and fixed wireless PoP sites, which provide connections to local networks.

The new fiber hub encircles the Grand Rapids downtown area offering businesses the advantage of connecting directly into 123Net dedicated fiber, said Chuck Irvin, Southfield-based firm's director of network development.

"The gold standard for internet speed and reliability is connecting your business directly to fiber," said Irvin, in a statement announcing the project.

The project will essentially double the size and the capacity of its 16-year-old Grand Rapids area data center, in Byron Township at 400 76th St SW.

123Net owns its entire network, which has 3,200 route miles of fiber across the state and in metro hubs in key population centers. The fiber network has more than 50 fixed wireless PoP sites and four data centers. The Grand Rapids and three Southfield centers have a combined 100,000 square feet of colocation space.

"We want to be Michigan's backbone for business, meaning we provide the strongest infrastructure in the ideal geographies," Irvin said. "We're confident that this investment in West Michigan will position us -- and our customers -- exactly where we need to be."

The firm handles every aspect of a fiber installation including design, permitting, construction and installation. This approach allows the company full control of the process translating into quicker, more affordable customer installations, he said.

The privately-owned firm is the communication provider for the Grand Rapids Griffins and the West Michigan Whitecaps.