The New Middle Mile Report
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New Middle Mile: How is it Changing the Game for Multi-Cloud Networking?
New Middle Mile: Why is the US Lacking Middle Mile Fibers?
New Middle Mile: Achieving a Unified Network in Distributed Cloud: Solutions for CSPs.
New Middle Mile: How Does AT&T Deliver End-to-End Circuit Quality?
New Middle Mile: How Will BT Upgrade Their Core Network?
New Middle Mile: How Colt is Enabling Digital Transformation
New Middle Mile: Graphiant Enables CSPs to Provide Mesh Connectivity for Enterprises
New Middle Mile: How does Graphiant overcome network inflexibility?
New Middle Mile: How can Service Providers Improve their Network to Meet New Workload Demands
New Middle Mile: Is Today's Infrastructure Sufficient for the Next Internet?
New Middle Mile: How Orange is Delivering Cloud-Based Services to 220 Geographies?
New Middle Mile: How Can APIs Help Automate Connectivity Services?
New Middle Mile: How Can Enterprises Connect All Their Assets Anytime, Anywhere, and at Scale?
New Middle Mile: Hyperscaler and cloud trends drive metro fiber upgrades
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What the 2023 New Middle Mile report finds
Across these interviews, the middle mile emerges as the strategic control point for multi-cloud connectivity, with carriers and vendors racing to make it programmable, on-demand, and API-driven while confronting fiber shortfalls and the physics of scaling core networks.
Multi-cloud demand drives the renaissance
Aarna Networks and Zayo tie middle-mile growth to enterprises using multiple public clouds, needing dedicated on-demand connectivity plus neutral sites to host state data and avoid egress costs.
APIs and automation are the enabler
PCCW Global uses MEF Sonata APIs in its Console Connect platform to automate last-mile provisioning, while AT&T leverages LSO APIs and virtual cross connects for automatic cloud provisioning.
The US faces a fiber deficit
Arelion notes Europe's 20-year-old fiber remains in good shape, while the US lacks middle-mile fibers despite strong last-mile fiber-to-the-home growth.
Core networks confront a physics upgrade
BT weighs putting coherent WDM optics directly into routers versus keeping transponders to support 400 gigabit and beyond, while NTT shifts from electronics to photonics to cut power and latency.
Unified fabrics stitch cloud to edge
Arrcus Connected Edge and FlexMCN, plus Graphiant's stateless core carrying metadata in the data plane, aim to deliver secure any-to-any mesh connectivity with guaranteed SLAs.
Carriers reinvent as digital platforms
Colt shifts to on-demand generation-based connectivity, Orange transforms its backbone to serve 220 geographies co-located with cloud providers, and Tata's MOVE connects IoT and consumer assets at scale.
Highlights from industry thought leaders














Video interviews
New Middle Mile: How is it Changing the Game for Multi-Cloud Networking?
- Aarna Networks ties the middle-mile renaissance to enterprises needing on-demand, self-service links to multiple public clouds.
- Cloud repatriation makes the middle mile an ideal neutral site to host state data and avoid egress costs.
- Orchestrating tens of infrastructure vendors and hundreds of services across thousands of sites is a core challenge.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: Why is the US Lacking Middle Mile Fibers?
- Arelion notes Europe's 20-year-old fiber remains in good shape, easing middle-mile equipment upgrades.
- The US has significant missing middle-mile fiber from years of under-deployment, despite strong last-mile growth.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: Achieving a Unified Network in Distributed Cloud: Solutions for CSPs.
- Arrcus Connected Edge (ACE) stitches edge workloads into the multi-cloud for communication service providers.
- Arrcus FlexMCN provides a secure multi-cloud fabric with control, visibility, and guaranteed SLAs.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How Does AT&T Deliver End-to-End Circuit Quality?
- AT&T uses LSO APIs to integrate partners, vendors, and competitors for end-to-end circuit quality.
- AT&T's Business Center lets customers create a virtual cross connect in any participating cloud provider.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How Will BT Upgrade Their Core Network?
- Coherent WDM transceivers now fit in a pluggable connected directly to a router, replacing transponder cards.
- BT weighs keeping transponders versus putting WDM optics in routers hop-by-hop to support 400 gigabit and beyond.
- The best option depends on bandwidth and distance; BT plans to trial all options before choosing.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How Colt is Enabling Digital Transformation
- Colt is evolving from traditional connectivity to an on-demand, generation-based model enabling flexibility.
- Colt is pursuing digital-transformation use cases across manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: Graphiant Enables CSPs to Provide Mesh Connectivity for Enterprises
- Graphiant helps CSPs unlock the value of their connectivity assets for enterprise customers.
- Graphiant enables any-to-any mesh connectivity with desired SLAs, without complex overlays.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How does Graphiant overcome network inflexibility?
- Graphiant's stateless core keeps transit as pure transport, fast and flexible versus rigid topologies.
- Graphiant puts metadata into the data plane so traffic routes freely without complex customer configuration.
- Graphiant's service is designed to become an open standard shared with the industry.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How can Service Providers Improve their Network to Meet New Workload Demands
- InsidePacket's network-as-a-service lets providers automate existing infrastructure on commodity hardware to cut costs.
- Providers can add services and application observability, connecting enterprise customers to assets anywhere.
- InsidePacket focuses on the middle mile as where providers can become the center of the enterprise offering.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: Is Today's Infrastructure Sufficient for the Next Internet?
- NTT says today's infrastructure cannot support the next internet of 3D animations, virtual worlds, AI, and holograms.
- NTT is shifting from electronics to photonics to reduce power consumption and latency for future infrastructure.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How Orange is Delivering Cloud-Based Services to 220 Geographies?
- Orange is transforming its backbone into a full internet backbone delivering cloud services in 220 geographies.
- The backbone is co-located with Google, Azure, and AWS, federating resources via APIs and orchestration.
- Orange hosts SaaS vendors on its Evolution platform to ensure an end-to-end digital experience.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How Can APIs Help Automate Connectivity Services?
- PCCW Global says extending connectivity beyond data centers to buildings requires downstream partner APIs.
- PCCW uses MEF Sonata Automation APIs in its Console Connect platform to automate downstream provisioning.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: How Can Enterprises Connect All Their Assets Anytime, Anywhere, and at Scale?
- Tata Communications' MOVE is a context-aware platform connecting IoT and consumer assets anytime, anywhere, at scale.
- MOVE delivers always-on connectivity for connected cars, saving manufacturers millions and improving driver experience.
- MOVE is pre-connected with 700 million routes worldwide, giving MVNOs global always-on connectivity and QoS insights.
Abstract
New Middle Mile: Hyperscaler and cloud trends drive metro fiber upgrades
- Zayo says hyperscaler and multi-cloud trends drive middle-mile fiber adoption by enterprises and government agencies.
- Zayo highlights the importance of APIs and agile service management in metro fiber upgrades.
Abstract
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