LSC Expands Dark Fiber Network Connecting St. Louis and Tulsa

New 500-mile route features 8 in-line amplifiers to boost signal strength for AI and cloud workloads

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Light Source Communications (LSC), a provider of high-capacity dark fiber networks, has announced a new 500-mile dark fiber route connecting St. Louis, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The route features 8 in-line amplifiers to boost signal strength and prevent degradation, supporting the growing demand for high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure in the Central U.S. region.

Why it matters

Regional connectivity on diverse, high-capacity dark fiber networks is becoming critical to enable the infrastructure needed for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing. This new route between two major Midwest hubs will provide a reliable, future-proof foundation for hyperscalers, cloud providers, and enterprises to scale their most demanding workloads.

The details

The new 500-mile dark fiber route from LSC will connect data centers in St. Louis and Tulsa, with additional Points-of-Presence planned. It will also integrate with LSC's existing 130-mile dark fiber metro ring in the Tulsa area. The route is engineered with 8 in-line amplifiers to maintain signal strength and prevent degradation over the long-haul distance. Completion of the project is anticipated by the third quarter of 2027.

  • LSC announced the new St. Louis-Tulsa dark fiber route yesterday.
  • The 500-mile route is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027.

The players

Light Source Communications (LSC)

A provider of high-capacity, future-proof dark fiber networks that is building the advanced infrastructure to support transformative technologies like AI and cloud computing.

Debra Freitas

The CEO of LSC.

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What they’re saying

“Our new St. Louis-Tulsa corridor is a strategic unlock for the Central U.S. We are building the advanced infrastructure that transformative technologies like AI and the neocloud require. This route ensures our partners have the massive, diverse capacity they need to move data at the speed of innovation as they scale their most demanding ML and HPC workloads.”

— Debra Freitas, CEO (LSC)

What’s next

LSC plans to complete construction on the 500-mile St. Louis-Tulsa dark fiber route by the third quarter of 2027.

The takeaway

This new high-capacity dark fiber network connecting two major Midwest hubs demonstrates the growing importance of regional connectivity to support the infrastructure needs of emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, and high-performance computing. LSC's investment in this project will help unlock the potential of the Central U.S. region for hyperscalers, cloud providers, and enterprises.