IXP.us Nears Wichita Internet Exchange Launch With $5 Million Grant, Eyes 135 Cities
Updated
Updated · BroadbandBreakfast.com · Aug 13
IXP.us Nears Wichita Internet Exchange Launch With $5 Million Grant, Eyes 135 Cities
1 articles · Updated · BroadbandBreakfast.com · Aug 13
Summary
Network operators are expected to start building into Wichita’s first internet exchange point within weeks, with the physical facility nearly ready to begin operations, IXP.us backers said.
The Wichita site is the pilot for a broader push into smaller markets: IXP.us, a joint venture of Connected Nation and internet-exchange pioneer Hunter Newby, aims to expand to 135 cities across 47 states.
A $5 million Capital Projects Fund grant financed the Wichita project, but Newby said the venture wants a more durable model because grant funding is uncertain and deadline-driven.
Moonshot is being brought in as a tenant to place compute resources at exchange points, creating cash flow to underwrite the sites while cutting latency and supporting more real-time AI services in rural areas.
The project broke ground in May 2025 after previously targeting a July 2026 construction date, and IXP.us has also discussed potential tenant partnerships with Cox and Lumen.