Middle-Mile Networks The Digital Economy Enabler in Rural America

Middle-mile networks are crucial for connecting rural areas to the internet backbone, fostering digital growth in underserved regions. This white paper explores how these networks can bridge the digital divide by providing essential bandwidth for emerging technologies.

It presents three bandwidth adoption scenarios through 2030, analyzing:

· The urban-rural connectivity gap
· Bandwidth consumption increases (from 3 Mbps in 2021 to 120+ Mbps by 2030)
· Precision agriculture driving rural demand
· Optical technology advancements for cost-effective expansion

Investing in middle-mile infrastructure can unlock economic opportunities, improve education, and enable telehealth in rural communities.