For 1623 Farnam, 2025 was a year defined by momentum. Demand for low-latency connectivity, edge deployments and flexible interconnection models continued to accelerate and we responded by expanding our physical footprint, strengthening our cloud and peering ecosystem and deepening our role as a critical connectivity hub in the Central U.S with our Omaha location.
As networks become more distributed and latency-sensitive, the value of location, interconnection density and carrier neutrality has never been clearer. When looking back at 2025 and ahead to connectivity 2026, one theme stands out: proximity is becoming a competitive advantage!
A Look Back: Key 1623 Farnam Accomplishments in 2025
Expanding to Support Edge and Network Growth
In mid-2025, 1623 Farnam completed a strategic facility expansion designed to support rising demand for edge deployments and interconnection services. The expansion added 1.5 MW of IT capacity and 280 new cabinets, reinforcing the facility’s ability to scale alongside customers without compromising performance, reliability or operational discipline.
This investment was not about speculative growth. It was a direct response to how networks are evolving. We’re talking about more distributed, more latency-sensitive and increasingly reliant on colocating compute, routing and interconnection in the same physical location. The additional capacity ensures that customers can deploy new workloads, terminate backhaul and add cross-connects without having to relocate their core infrastructure.
Strengthening the Omaha IX Ecosystem
Another major milestone in 2025 was the continued growth and adoption of the Omaha IX. A notable example came when the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) tapped into the Omaha IX at 1623 Farnam to expand statewide reach and improve performance for public sector and institutional users.
This announcement underscored a broader trend: regional and statewide networks increasingly see value in local peering and direct exchange rather than hauling traffic to distant metros. By peering at the IX, networks reduce latency, improve reliability and lower transit costs, while keeping traffic closer to end users across the Midwest.
For 1623 Farnam, Omaha IX is not a standalone service. It is tightly integrated into a broader interconnection fabric that includes carriers, cloud on-ramps, content networks and enterprise infrastructure under one roof.
Advancing Private Cloud Connectivity With Microsoft Azure
In 2025, 1623 Farnam continued to build on its role as a certified Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute partner, giving customers a private, high-performance pathway into Azure and Microsoft 365.
With ExpressRoute, organizations can bypass the public Internet entirely and connect directly into Microsoft’s global cloud platform. This enables lower latency, improved security and predictable performance for hybrid cloud architectures and mission-critical workloads. When combined with 1623 Farnam’s carrier-neutral environment and central U.S. location, ExpressRoute becomes a foundational component for enterprises modernizing their infrastructure while maintaining control over performance and routing.
Supporting Fixed Wireless Access and Backhaul Strategies
As Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) deployments expanded across urban, suburban and rural markets in 2025, 1623 Farnam emerged as a natural aggregation and backhaul hub. Proximity to the Omaha IX, dense carrier presence and direct cloud connectivity allow wireless operators to terminate backhaul where peering, transit and cloud services converge, eliminating inefficient routing and simplifying network design.
This model is especially valuable for operators scaling FWA services quickly, where minimizing hops and accelerating turn-ups directly impacts customer experience and operational efficiency.
Looking Ahead: Connectivity Trends Shaping 2026
While 2025 was about execution and expansion, 2026 will be about optimization and architectural refinement. Several connectivity trends are set to accelerate and each reinforces the importance of facilities like 1623 Farnam.
Edge-First Network Architectures
As applications become more real-time and data-intensive, networks are shifting from centralized cloud models to edge-first architectures. Compute, packet cores, analytics and security functions are moving closer to users and devices.
1623 Farnam’s central location, dense interconnection ecosystem and recent expansion position it as an ideal anchor point for these edge deployments, supporting everything from enterprise edge use cases to wireless packet core placement.
Increased Reliance on IX-Based Traffic Exchange
Traffic patterns continue to favor local and regional peering over long-haul transit. In 2026, more networks will look to IX connectivity to improve performance, manage costs and increase resilience.
Omaha IX plays a critical role in this shift, enabling efficient traffic exchange across the Midwest while integrating seamlessly with carrier and cloud connectivity inside 1623 Farnam.
Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Normalization
Hybrid and multi-cloud architectures are no longer transitional, they are the default. Enterprises want flexibility to mix cloud providers, control routing, and avoid lock-in.
With Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, Google Cloud on-ramps, and access to 60+ carriers, 1623 Farnam enables customers to design cloud architectures that balance performance, security and cost, without redesigning their networks as needs evolve.
Wireless Growth and Backhaul Efficiency
Wireless innovation, from FWA to private LTE/5G, will continue to drive demand for efficient backhaul and interconnection. In 2026, success will depend less on spectrum alone and more on where traffic lands and how quickly it reaches cloud and content ecosystems.
By anchoring wireless backhaul at a central, carrier-dense, IX-enabled facility, operators can scale faster while maintaining consistent user experiences across regions.
Building on Momentum with 1623 Farnam
As 1623 Farnam enters 2026, the foundation laid in 2025 is already paying dividends. Strategic expansion, stronger IX participation, private cloud connectivity and a growing wireless ecosystem have reinforced its role as the Midwest connectivity hub.
The next phase is not about chasing trends, it is about enabling customers to adapt as connectivity demands continue to evolve. With proximity, density and neutrality working together, 1623 Farnam remains positioned at the heart of what’s next. How can we help you in 2026? Contact us today to learn more.