Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing

Overview

The Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing is an upcoming submarine cable system designed to connect key locations across Lake Michigan within the United States. This cable will link Benton Harbor and St. Joseph in Michigan to Chicago in Illinois, providing enhanced connectivity across the region. Scheduled to be ready for service by 2028, the system aims to bolster telecommunications infrastructure between these states, supporting growing demands for high-speed internet and enterprise connectivity. By traversing Lake Michigan, the cable offers a direct and efficient route for data transmission, bypassing overland routes that may be more susceptible to congestion or physical disruptions.

Once operational, the Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing will play a critical role in strengthening regional digital infrastructure, facilitating improved internet access, and supporting business operations in both Michigan and Illinois. Its strategic placement across Lake Michigan underscores the importance of reliable, high-capacity links in connecting key economic and population centers within the Midwest.

Route and Landings

The Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing spans Lake Michigan, connecting three landing points: Benton Harbor and St. Joseph in Michigan, and Chicago in Illinois. Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, approximately 90 miles across the water from Chicago, which lies on the lake's western shore. This route provides a direct underwater link between the two states, avoiding the need for terrestrial infrastructure that would otherwise navigate around the lake.

Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are adjacent communities in Michigan, known for their proximity to the lake and their roles as regional hubs for commerce and transportation. Chicago, as the largest city in Illinois and a major metropolitan area in the United States, serves as a critical endpoint for the cable. The city is a significant hub for telecommunications, hosting numerous data centers and acting as a gateway for internet traffic in the Midwest. By linking these locations, the cable supports both local and regional connectivity needs, enhancing digital infrastructure in a key part of the country.

Ownership and History

The Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing is jointly owned by 123NET and Peninsula Fiber Network (PFN), two companies with established expertise in telecommunications and fiber-optic infrastructure. Both organizations are committed to expanding connectivity in the Midwest, and this project represents a significant investment in regional digital infrastructure. The cable's development reflects the growing demand for reliable and high-capacity data links in the area, driven by increasing internet usage and the proliferation of data-intensive applications.

The project was announced with a planned ready-for-service date of 2028. While the cable is still under development, its completion will mark a milestone in regional connectivity, providing a vital link between Michigan and Illinois. The collaboration between 123NET and PFN highlights the importance of partnerships in achieving large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in regions where improved connectivity can have a transformative impact on local economies and communities.

What Our Measurements Show

Although the Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing is not yet operational, our monitoring of similar submarine cable systems in the region highlights the potential benefits of this project. Submarine cables across bodies of water like Lake Michigan typically experience lower latency compared to overland routes, as they provide more direct paths for data transmission. This advantage is particularly significant for applications requiring real-time communication, such as financial trading, cloud computing, and video conferencing.

Our probes also indicate that cables in similar environments are less prone to physical disruptions caused by construction, weather, or human activity, which can affect terrestrial infrastructure. By crossing Lake Michigan, the cable avoids the challenges associated with overland routes, such as navigating urban areas or dealing with right-of-way issues. Once operational, the Lake Michigan Chicago Crossing is expected to deliver consistent and reliable performance, supporting the growing connectivity needs of communities and businesses in Michigan and Illinois.