As Fiscal Year 2026 comes to a close, ICN looks back on a transformative year focused on bandwidth upgrades, critical infrastructure modernization, and a transition away from legacy systems.
From expanding out-of-state 100Gb paths to tearing down decades-old voice equipment, ICN has solidified its role as Iowa’s critical broadband and telecommunications backbone. Here are the major highlights that shaped Fiscal Year 2026.
Massive Bandwidth Expansion & Regional Connectivity
To meet the ever-growing demand for data, ICN significantly boosted its external network capacity by establishing new, high-capacity routes to major regional tech hubs.
- The 100G Chicago Route (June 2026): ICN enhanced Iowa's overall broadband infrastructure by launching a new 100Gb path to Chicago, providing massive bandwidth capabilities and direct access to major internet exchange points.
- The 100G Denver Path (February 2026): Earlier in the fiscal year, ICN went live with a brand new 100-Gigabit path to Denver, ensuring Iowa's network has robust, high-speed routes heading both east and west.
- Omaha IX Peering Exchange (July 2025): We kicked off the fiscal year with ICN tapping into the Omaha IX Peering Exchange at 1623 Farnam, boosting statewide reach and lowering latency for Iowa users.
Infrastructure Modernization & Redundancy
A major theme was improving network resilience, ensuring that even if a fiber line is disrupted, traffic is instantly rerouted without downtime.
- Northern Iowa 10Gb Fiber Upgrades ( February & June 2026): ICN completed major fiber upgrades across Northern Iowa, bringing 10Gb speeds and enhanced redundancy to the region.
- Highway 18 and Western Iowa Enhancements (September 2025 & January 2026): ICN boosted network backup capabilities along the Highway 18 corridor and across Western Iowa to safeguard rural connectivity.
- Downtown Des Moines Hub Relocation (March 2026): ICN successfully relocated its core network hub in downtown Des Moines without interrupting vital state government services.
- Capitol Complex and Wallace Building Upgrades (October 2025 & March 2026): ICN modernized the inside cabling and fiber infrastructure for Iowa’s Capitol Complex buildings ensuring emergency connectivity for services continue, including a strategic fiber relocation prior to the demolition of the Wallace State Office Building.
The End of an Era: Finalizing Legacy Migrations
Fiscal Year 2026 marked the official end of ICN's legacy DMS voice system.
- Long-Distance Voice Migration (February 2026): ICN completed a major long-distance voice migration, moving users to more reliable, modern cloud-based architecture.
- Legacy Voice Equipment Teardown (May 2026): To seal the transition, ICN teams finalized the physical teardown and removal of legacy, decades-old voice equipment from its central offices, freeing up space and lowering power consumption.
Security & Network Reliability
Maintaining a "Five Nines" (99.999%) network uptime requires constant vigilance. ICN rolled out improvements to keep Iowans safe online.
- DDoS Mitigation with Optical TAPs (January 2026): ICN upgraded its cyber defenses by integrating Optical TAPs (Test Access Points), significantly enhancing its Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) mitigation and network visibility.
- Climate & Structural Resilience (November 2025): Beyond cybersecurity, ICN completed behind-the-scenes HVAC upgrades and building safety improvements to protect sensitive server environments from severe weather and overheating.
Looking Ahead
Over the past 12 months, ICN has successfully built a faster, more resilient, and fully modernized network driven by a fresh vision and expanded goals. The agency is proud to serve as Iowa’s critical broadband infrastructure and remains committed to delivering the reliable connectivity its users rely on to fulfill their essential missions for Iowans.