Nvidia Proposes AI Data Centers at Brightspeed Telecom Sites

Nvidia submitted a proposal to Brightspeed to explore converting some telecom buildings into small AI data centers, potentially adding existing sites to a wider AI infrastructure network.

The proposal, submitted Wednesday, Nov. 4, requests more information and visits to several sites. Brightspeed operates more than 130 buildings that handle voice and data traffic. The proposal does not establish an agreement or say how many buildings might be converted. A network under consideration could span as many as 20 states.

Nvidia estimated that the buildings have about one gigawatt of available power in total. That figure covers the portfolio and is not a site-by-site assessment or a measure of confirmed computing capacity.

Nvidia staff also discussed with suppliers retrofitting some sites for Vera Rubin server racks starting in the first quarter of 2027. That is a potential start window, not a confirmed construction schedule. Cooling upgrades could require local approvals.

Brightspeed began operating in 2022 when Apollo-managed funds completed their acquisition of Lumen’s local telephone assets and related operations across 20 states. At launch, Brightspeed’s service territory covered more than 6.5 million locations, mainly in rural and suburban communities.