NoaNet (Northwest Open Access Network)

05/27/2026

As data center development accelerates, communities are asking an important question:

How can growth translate into long-term local benefit?

This piece outlines how communities can take a more active role, from negotiating infrastructure investments to ensuring workforce development and local economic impact are part of the equation.

At NoaNet, this is what we see across Washington, the most successful projects are the ones where connectivity, infrastructure, and community priorities are aligned from the start.

Data centers don’t exist in isolation. They are part of a broader regional ecosystem, and when that ecosystem is intentionally designed, the benefits extend far beyond a single facility.

AI data centers are expanding rapidly. Learn how communities can negotiate public benefit agreements that deliver jobs, infrastructure, and digital opportunity.

05/22/2026

AI is changing how data centers are built, especially when it comes to cooling.

This expansion of Sabey’s partnership with JetCool highlights where the industry is heading:
• Direct-to-chip liquid cooling
• Higher rack densities
• Measurable improvements in power efficiency

These aren’t incremental upgrades, they’re foundational shifts to support next-gen workloads.

At NoaNet, this is what we see as densities increase, the need for scalable, low-latency connectivity between facilities becomes just as critical as what’s happening inside the data center.

AI infrastructure doesn’t operate in isolation. It depends on the network.

Sabey Data Centers expanded its partnership with JetCool to simplify and scale direct-to-chip liquid cooling deployments across Sabey’s national data center portfolio. The move builds on a 2023 collaboration that delivered measured server power savings of 13.5% versus air-cooled configurations, ta...

05/19/2026

One of Washington’s biggest advantages in the data center space is often underappreciated: energy profile.

Seattle City Light has been carbon neutral for years, with a generation mix led by hydroelectric power.

That matters more than ever as AI workloads drive significant increases in energy demand.

At NoaNet, this is what we see shaping site selection decisions today, it’s no longer just about access to power, but access to clean power.

As operators scale in the Seattle region, the combination of carbon-neutral energy and strong network connectivity creates a compelling foundation for next-generation infrastructure.

We continuously examine our power generation and transmission systems to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

05/14/2026

An important perspective on Washington’s data center growth.

In Central Washington, communities like Quincy are seeing real, measurable benefits from data center investment:
• Lower poverty rates
• Stable, well-paying jobs
• Increased funding for schools and healthcare

This is a side of the conversation that often gets overlooked.

At NoaNet, this is what we see across the region — infrastructure investment doesn’t just stay inside the data center. It creates broader economic opportunity when communities are connected to larger digital ecosystems.

Connectivity plays a key role in that. Reliable, high-capacity transport helps extend the value of these investments beyond a single site, linking rural and urban markets across Washington.

Quincy is a small farming town in Central Washington near the Columbia River, home to one of the world’s top french fry producers. It’s also the model for Microsoft’s nationwide data center strategy.

05/12/2026

Washington’s data center future isn’t just about demand, it’s about infrastructure, access, and long-term strategy. As growth accelerates, the real question becomes: how do we support it at scale?

NoaNet provides wholesale broadband infrastructure and telecommunications solutions to transform Washington State communities through broadband access.

04/03/2026

Now accepting students for the OpTIC Path Cohort 4 training, which is planned to run from September 28 through December 18. For more information and to register, please visit our website:https://www.noanet.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NoaNet-and-FBA-OpTIC.pdf

04/02/2026

Big milestone for NoaNet, we’ve officially completed our first OpTIC Path training cohort. Six participants from the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Okanogan County Electric Co-op successfully earned their Optical Telecom Installer Certificates. This program is about more than training, it’s about building the skilled workforce needed to deploy and maintain broadband infrastructure in the communities that need it most. A strong start, and just the beginning.

https://www.noanet.net/insights/building-the-workforce-behind-broadband-infrastructure/

03/30/2026

As broadband expansion accelerates, one challenge is becoming clear: we don’t just need more fiber, we need more skilled people to build it. NoaNet, in partnership with the Fiber Broadband Association, is helping close that gap through its OpTIC Path, or Optical Telecom Installer Certificate program, combining hands-on instruction with real-world application to prepare the next generation of fiber technicians. Investing in infrastructure is critical but investing in the workforce behind it is what makes long-term connectivity possible.

NoaNet provides wholesale broadband infrastructure and telecommunications solutions to transform Washington State communities through broadband access.

03/16/2026

As demand for AI, cloud computing, and digital services grows, so does Washington’s data center footprint. But behind every data center is something equally critical: reliable, high-capacity fiber connectivity.

Our most recent Insights article looks at how Washington’s expanding data center ecosystem depends on strong middle-mile broadband infrastructure—and the role networks like NoaNet play in connecting facilities, communities, and global networks.

The bottom line: data center growth and broadband infrastructure go hand in hand, helping power the digital economy across Washington.

NoaNet provides wholesale broadband infrastructure and telecommunications solutions to transform Washington State communities through broadband access.