The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) has joined Omaha IX, an internet exchange at 1623 Farnam, a regional network-neutral edge interconnection and data center services in Omaha. The announcement was made by 1623 Farnam.
ICN, which is owned by the state of Iowa, will be able to directly peer with content and cloud providers closer to its user base. The goal is to provide high performance and low-latency connectivity to users, including schools and institutes of higher learning, public safety agencies, governmental organizations, and healthcare facilities.
The press release says that joining Omaha IX is a strategic shift for ICN, which formerly routed much of its traffic through internet exchanges in Chicago and Denver. The new approach will help bridge the digital divide and future-proof services for both rural and urban communities in Iowa within the network footprint, the press release says.
1623 Farnam features a neutral platform for peering, cloud access, and cross-carrier interconnection. It provides connectivity to fiber and wireless network providers, major cloud and CDN properties, content providers, and Fortune 500 companies.
“Having a presence at 1623 Farnam and joining the Omaha IX peering exchange provides the ICN a vast opportunity for more interconnection with our partner networks in the State of Iowa,” Iowa Communications Network Executive Director Ryan Mulhall said in a press release.
“With ICN as part of this new digital ecosystem, it brings more options for peering and direct connections with content and service providers where our customers’ workloads and applications live.”
In April, ICN announced technology upgrades to three regions and brought Zoom service across its footprint.
Additional information about the Iowa Communications Network and broadband in Iowa — including links to state funding resources, previous awards made, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage, BEAD news, and more — can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
