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Wireless infrastructure provider Boldyn Networks US says it will complete 80 miles of high-speed fiber in the Greater Bay Area network by the end of June to boost internet and wireless capacity there.
The Irvine-based firm provides open access networks to a wide array of sites ranging from public transit systems to airports and military bases, as well as sports and entertainment venues.
Boldyn’s recent announcement concerns the so-called “Middle-Mile” project, that is part of the wireless infrastructure provider’s greater Bay Area network, a new high-count 220-mile fiber ring connecting Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose among other cities.
The high-capacity segment of the network will provide critical infrastructure to support high-speed internet access for local businesses, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, government employees and residents, many of whom have historically faced barriers to connectivity. The new infrastructure will support next-gen AI technologies.
The expression “middle-mile” refers to the physical fiber optic infrastructure needed to enable internet connectivity. It is made up of high-capacity fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at high speeds over long distances.
5G, Smart Cities, World Cup
An open-access network gives providers and entities access to broadband infrastructure that will allow any networks to connect on equal economic and service terms.
Boldyn CEO Christos Karmis said the project provides “the critical infrastructure for the future of AI innovation, supports 5G, enables smart cities, and supports marquee events like the World Cup in 2026.”
Boldyn Networks US ranked No. 10 on the Business Journal’s 2024 list of largest telecommunications and wireless companies in OC. The company is part of the global Boldyn Networks organization.
The company has also been carrying out a major communications upgrade for the Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco.
Boldyn is able to leverage BART right-of-way to deploy fiber optic cables to support multiple uses, including the BART upgrades and as part of the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, a Boldyn spokesperson told the Business Journal on April 10.
Closing Digital Divide
Jared Johnson, deputy chief information officer for the California Department of Technology, said the project’s goals include “closing the digital divide and promoting equitable access to digital resources.”
“The completion of this segment of the Middle Mile network is a significant step forward in our mission to ensure all Californians have access to reliable and affordable internet,” Johnson said in an April 9 statement.
Local community leaders are already seeing the positive potential of the development for underserved communities.
“Access to affordable and reliable internet has never been evenly distributed, and too many communities, particularly in East and West Oakland, have been left behind,” Patrick Messac, director of #OaklandUndivided, said in a statement. “This transformative infrastructure investment is critical in building the next generation of networks that will connect homes, schools and businesses.”
Messac added: “It’s about ensuring that all residents—especially those in historically marginalized neighborhoods—have access to the digital tools and opportunities they need to thrive, making broadband access not just a service but a fundamental civil right.”