Mexico Holds Only 3% of the Fiber Optic Infrastructure Deployed in the U.S.

Mexico is currently facing a significant lag in fiber optic deployment—a critical component for supporting the connectivity demands driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Data Centers.

The integration of AI into daily life is forcing a transformation in national infrastructure. Over the next five years, it is estimated that 79% of Data Centers in Mexico will see at least a six-fold increase in connectivity demand due to AI development from major players like Meta and Google, according to estimates by the consultancy firm Ciena.

However, this surge presents a challenge: Mexico currently possesses only 3% of the fiber optic mileage deployed in the United States, one of the world's most robust markets for Data Center connectivity. This gap was highlighted by Simón Masri, President of C3ntro Telecom.

The Importance of Fiber

Fiber optics are vital for this infrastructure because their composition—thousands of glass filaments that conduct light pulses—allows for high-speed data transfer and lower latency for video, music, and all internet content.

While there is no exact current figure for the total kilometers of fiber in Mexico, two years ago, IFT (Federal Telecommunications Institute) Commissioner Sóstenes Díaz estimated approximately 412,000 km in access networks and 266,000 km in transport networks. These figures remain insufficient for future needs.

According to the Mexican Data Center Association, 73 new Data Centers are expected to be built by 2029, joining the 166 already operating in the market. Masri emphasized that Mexico must accelerate deployment to meet the data consumption demands of these massive infrastructures, despite current challenges.

"There is a threat of tariffs, but companies know they cannot stay out of AI Data Center development. Despite uncertainty, inflation, or exchange rate issues, the demand for internet and data will not stop," Masri stated.

Betting on Fiber Expansion: The Tikva Project

C3ntro Telecom aims to capitalize on this opportunity through its Tikva Project. This initiative involves the underground deployment of 2,500 kilometers of fiber optics to connect Querétaro with Phoenix, Arizona—two major tech hubs—to serve the AI demands of Google, Amazon, and Meta.

Project Details:

• Coverage: 29 repetition points passing through cities such as Hermosillo, Mazatlán, Guaymas, Culiacán, Durango, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Celaya, Irapuato, and León.

• Security: Since the route includes areas with high crime rates, the company stated that governments have offered support to ensure the safety of the 3,000+ workers involved.

• Resilience: The network is entirely underground, making it "immune to hydrological and geographical issues or natural disasters," and significantly more secure than aerial networks.

Target Market

The goal is to market the project to "Hyperscalers" like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Meta. C3ntro Telecom also plans to sell network capacity to traditional fixed and mobile operators (such as Izzi, Megacable, Totalplay, Telefónica, and AT&T), as well as smaller Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs).

"In addition to meeting AI demand, this network deployment will help bridge the digital divide by supporting operators that bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas," the executive concluded.

Source: Expansión https://expansion.mx/tecnologia/2025/05/21/mexico-tiene-el-3-de-fibra-optica-que-eu-tiene-desplegada (2025)