Get to Know US Signal Network Solutions

February 15, 2024
Network, Data Centers

From the Internet of Things (IoT) to artificial intelligence, advanced technologies are changing business and driving digital transformation across almost every industry. But they’re doing it alone.

These technologies require fast, secure, always-on access to and between data centers, cloud providers, content distribution networks, sensors, endpoints, enterprises, employees, customers, suppliers, and more. That, in turn, necessitates a powerful network that offers uptime, reliability, high-level security, access to connectivity-rich data centers, and diverse peering partners with redundant paths to the public Internet.

That’s what US Signal’s robust, wholly-owned fiber network provides, in conjunction with critical direct transport and network services.

The US Signal Network

As the Midwest’s largest privately owned fiber network, the US Signal network is comprised of 14,000 miles of fast, reliable fiber optic connectivity. It extends throughout 10 states, including Virginia — home of the US capitol of the Internet and Ashburn’s “data center alley.”

It encompasses nine US Signal data centers in key Midwest cities, including our newest data center in North Indianapolis. It also includes metro rings in 20 Midwest markets, access to over 225 data centers and POPs, and redundant Tier 1 peering relationships. It’s what powers our colocation and cloud solutions.

Based on industry-leading Cisco^® Dense Wave Division Multiplexed (DWDM) technologies, US Signal’s network is designed to handle failures before they affect your business. It features a redundant architecture with a network topology and protocols that ensure no single point of failure.

As a result, US Signal can maintain service level agreement-backed uptime and performance — even if traffic spikes or a disaster strikes.

Key specifications include:

• Multiple paired-core routers with diverse paths to the Internet, including diversity from Chicago, Illinois; Ashburn, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Detroit, Michigan
• Redundant paths to the Internet via diverse locations to avoid single geographic points of failure, like Chicago, Illinois
• Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) with circuit bandwidths from DS1 (1.54 MB) through OC192 (9.95 GB)
• Dedicated, low latency circuit bandwidths from 1 GB through 100+ GB
• Path-protected circuits across the core network that, in case of primary path interruption, switch to backup paths in less than 50 milliseconds for minimal disruption
• Reliable and robust Cisco-powered optical transport networks connecting over 250 sites in eight states (99.999% availability SLA)
• 100 GB-capable DWDM routes; 200 GB and 400 GB trunks with multiple 100 GB customer handoffs on selected routes
• Option to protect primary point-to-point DWDM circuits with a geographically diverse backup circuit to protect critical high bandwidth circuits
• Multiple access options to meet needs for flexibility and scalability, including direct Tier 1 peering, cloud exchanges, full rate GigE External Network to Network Interface (ENNI)
• Carrier-neutral data centers with meet-me-rooms (MMRs)
• Carrier hotels/peering exchanges in 50 third-party data centers with participation in five peering exchanges
• Geographically diverse routes between carrier interconnection locations across the network for maximum uptime
• Cloud and ethernet exchanges via Equinix Cloud Exchange™ and other large neutral data centers
• Direct network access to multiple hosted partner applications housed in US Signal data centers and US Signal cloud
• Protected Metro fiber rings in 20 Midwest markets
• The ability to utilize Carrier Ethernet and MPLS protocol for fast recovery and low-latency data transmission

Download the US Signal Network Map

US Signal Network Services Overview

A robust, secure, and reliable network is great, but what most organizations really care about are the services that leverage that network and can best benefit them. US Signal addresses that with a wide array of network services to meet a variety of business needs — and to power broader solutions such as colocation, cloud, and even digital transformation. The following provides an overview of US Signal’s switched and routed services and direct transport services.

Switched and Routed Services

US Signal's switched and routed services provide secure, fast connectivity while minimizing the time spent managing it. No fixed circuits are required. Private Layer 2 and Layer 3 service options are available, along with offerings such as Managed Router, IP Monitoring, Cellular Failover, and Quality of Service (QoS) to further enhance system monitoring and quality control. Services include:

• Dedicated Internet Access - US Signal’s Direct Internet Access (DIA) is built on a fiber network using SONET and DWDM technologies for maximum performance and includes enhanced DDoS protection to block the most advanced threats in real-time. Take advantage of burstable, fixed bandwidth speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. Leverage upstream connections in major markets to ensure optimal connectivity and latency.

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• Multiprotocol Label Switching - US Signal's MPLS network utilizes proven synchronous optical network (SONET) and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) transport technologies, offering clients secure Layer 3 access between multiple locations. Choose a network design that mirrors your unique traffic patterns, and use your US Signal peering connection to top content providers to deliver optimal performance.

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• Ethernet Transport Services - US Signal’s Ethernet Transport Services feature fully meshed MPLS routing, end-to-end security, options for private network connections, and the ability to connect any site on US Signal's dense footprint. All services meet MEF 3.0 performance metrics. These solutions are ideal for applications requiring high bandwidths with increased wide-area network (WAN) complexity.

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• Virtual Ethernet Services - These services extend Layer 2 private connectivity into your wide-area network (WAN) topology by moving large-area network (LAN) packets throughout our proprietary network. Connect to locations across the US Signal footprint in multipoint or point-to-point configurations. Choose from multiple access types and bandwidth options; no fixed or permanent virtual circuits are required.

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• SD-WAN - US Signal’s SD-WAN, powered by Cato Networks, is a cloud-based solution that securely optimizes private connectivity between your sites and remote users. Leverage a single, integrated management console for configuring and managing your entire network. All traffic is encrypted and inspected to protect data against malware and other security threats before reaching its destination.

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• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) - US Signal’s SASE solution integrates SD-WAN, Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), and unified management into a unified platform. This facilitates optimal WAN management, global connectivity, WAN and internet security, remote access, and more for an unparalleled level of security.

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• Cellular Failover - Ensure your WAN connection stays up even if the last-mile access loop goes down. The fully managed service includes installing, configuring, and maintaining a wireless backup-enabled router at your site and 24/7/365 support from the US Signal Technical Operations Center (TOC). Each managed router set up for wireless backup is provisioned with 10 GB of data.

Direct Transport Services

US Signal's direct transport network services offer businesses fast, secure connectivity with options for point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and point-to-cloud communication. Services include:

• Virtual Cloud Connect - Connecting to the cloud — any cloud — has never been easier. US Signal’s Virtual Cloud Connect provides dedicated, direct network access to major cloud providers like AWS, Azure, Google, IBM, SoftLayer, and Oracle. It functions across all network options, with bandwidth capacity ranging from 50 Mbps to 10 Gbps and with flat-rate transit costs for each connectivity option in your VCC network.

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• Direct Fiber Access - With Direct Fiber Access, you can choose an unprotected path, partially collapsed path or protected path from your location to the US Signal metro fiber ring. Reduce your hops to the internet with US Signal’s connection to Tier 1 upstream providers, and create a low latency connection to US Signal’s cloud infrastructure with a direct connection to 9,500 miles of wholly owned fiber optics.

• Private Line - US Signal's Private Line services provide SONET-based, metro, and long-haul point-to-point circuits from DS-1 to OC-192 capacity and private lines with Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet handoffs. Various interconnection options are available, so you can configure the connections to support your specific requirements. Metro services are also available in selected markets.

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• Optical Wave - Keep your bandwidth high and your costs low with US Signal’s Optical Wave service. It’s a fiber-based, point-to-point service that provides dedicated, transparent, secure connections with over 180 carrier-neutral locations, central offices, wireless MSCs/MTSOs, and diverse routes. Metro and long-haul wave services are available with numerous handoff options.

There’s More

There’s a lot more we could tell you about US Signal’s network and our vast portfolio of network-powered solutions. If you’re interested in learning about them and how they can benefit your organization, let us know.

You can also take advantage of these resources:

Know Your Options: Peering, IP Transit and Direct Internet Access

Cloud Connectivity Security Challenges (and How to Mitigate Them)

Consider the Network When Choosing a Good Cloud Service Provider

Expand from Network Security to Cloud Security

Does Data Center Location Matter for Cloud Services

US Signal Launches Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Solution for Enhanced Network Security