Vision Net is Re-Defining the AI Landscape

By Rob Worden, President/CEO of Vision Net

 

Vision Net is re-defining the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape by creating the AI inference market space with its unique Neo Cloud infrastructure assets. Why? Infinite Innovation is our core purpose.

In the rapidly evolving world of AI cloud infrastructure and applications, the conversation is shifting. For years, centralized hyperscale cloud providers have dominated the narrative. As data volumes explode and latency-sensitive AI applications become the norm, the limitation of a centralized architecture is apparent: it is too far from the consumer to overcome the latency requirement of AI.

Vision Net believes the future lies not just in smarter clouds, but in the proximity of those clouds to the users of AI technology. But proximity without high-capacity fiber networks interconnecting those clouds also does not solve the latency issue; nor does it address data residency concerns or increasing power and cooling requirements of AI. Fortunately, Vision Net's spirit of innovation has already solved these issues with its Distributed Data Center architecture. Vision Net is bringing the AI value promise to America by re-defining the AI landscape.

 

The Problem with the Legacy Cloud

The traditional cloud model was built for applications and data that could afford to travel long distances to centralized data centers.

Today's applications demand ultra-low latency, real-time responsiveness, and localized computing. Hospitals need AI capabilities to improve patient outcomes. Locally run AI speeds decision making, accuracy of diagnoses, imaging analysis, and care recommendations. This kind of edge-native AI is crucial to a host of enterprise use cases for businesses relying on fast decision-making, reduced error rates, and task automation. Autonomous cars, robots, and AI agents without lightning-fast AI informed inputs create undesirable outcomes. A banking sector AI agent not tuned to current predictive fraud alerting models cannot mitigate economic loss from clever bad actors.

The old cloud is struggling to meet the requirements of near-real-time AI. The result? Bottlenecks, latency, rising costs, and that annoying spinning hourglass that tells you those things are true.

 

Re-defining the AI Landscape

The NeoCloud model is a transformative re-design of the old hyperscale cloud computing landscape that brings the full promise of AI to the consumer. A NeoScaler spins up NeoClouds (network connected AI optimized technologies) in a local or edge market close to the AI user.

Vision Net is distinctively positioned in this inference market space as an existing data center operator. Our centers are distributed, connected, and intelligent. Vision Net is also the only AI-Ready Network provider in the Western United States to connect its centers on an 800Gbps network. This solves the distance/latency issue.

This type of AI-ready network capability also solves another problem, one for state-wide networks, which is pricing pressures from the national carriers. National carriers have been aggressive in their approach to increasing price pressures on 10G and 100G services. An AI-ready network delivered as a complete AI platform solution at up to 800Gbps to ensure quality AI-workloads is a premium service. Vision Net is switching the narrative.

 

Vision Net: The Intelligent AI Edge

 

Vision Net is empowering enterprises to own their AI journey without being tethered to distant hyperscalers. Instead, we focus on data processing and generation as close to the user as possible. Unlike cloud providers who rely on massive power- and water-hungry centralized facilities, Vision Net's NeoCloud approach is evolved to offer:

Our edge data centers are intelligent hubs serving as local inference engines with unique network and location advantages. Without these hubs in place, the value promise of AI cannot be realized, simply because the old model will not support the new reality demands of AI.

Decentralization of compute is the core of the Vision Net model. As AI workloads become more complex, enterprises need to rethink their AI application strategies. Will the hyperscaler capabilities meet the demands of their business? The vast amount of future enterprise-generated data (up to 75%) will be created and processed outside traditional hyperscale data centers by necessity.

So NVIDIA, Microsoft, Oracle, AWS — you already know that the AI promise will not be fulfilled without local/regional edge data providers like Vision Net. That's why you have been calling us. And while you may think that AT&T and Verizon are your fast path to market scale, their bureaucracies will slow you down. Vision Net and its edge data partner network (Indatel Edge) reach across the United States and are ready now.

 

Why This Matters Now

We are at a pivotal moment. The convergence of AI, edge computing, and data privacy is reshaping how businesses operate. The legacy model cannot keep up. Businesses deserve infrastructure that adapts to them, not the other way around. Vision Net is not just responding to this shift we are leading it.

As CEO, I have seen firsthand how enterprises struggle with the trade-offs imposed by legacy cloud models. I have had to make those decisions myself. Our mission is to eliminate those trade-offs and deliver the AI experience and value promise.

 

Looking Ahead

The future of infrastructure is distributed, intelligent, and adaptive. Vision Net is committed to that future. Our roadmap includes continued capacity upgrades across our state-wide fiber optic network and evolution of our data centers to support ever-changing data use demands. Vision Net is in a constant state of what we call Infinite Innovation, planning for today and tomorrow. NeoScale today, QScale tomorrow (Yes, Quantum is coming!).

Vision Net invites educational, healthcare, and financial enterprises, property developers, utilities, municipalities, and innovators of all stripes to join us in this journey. The edge is no longer a frontier — it is the new center of gravity. Vision Net believes that intelligence belongs everywhere, not just in the cloud. We are proud to be enabling that future, and we are just getting started!

 

Vision Net is a Montana-based state-wide fiber optic network and premier data center provider headquartered in Great Falls, Montana. Founded in 1995 by eight (8) incumbent telephone companies, Vision Net is the leading communications technology company in the Mountain West region.

5 Things K-12 Leaders Should Know About Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS)

Vision Net was founded 30 years ago to connect Montana's rural schools through early video conferencing networks — so helping educators stay connected is part of who we are. Today, as classrooms rely on digital tools and always-on connectivity, Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) represent the next step in that mission.

With new E-Rate Category 2 updates and a fresh five-year budget cycle, now is the perfect time for schools and libraries to understand how MIBS can strengthen their networks and simplify IT.

 

1. MIBS Expands What E-Rate Can Cover

 

E-Rate isn't just for routers and cabling anymore. Under the new Category 2 rules, schools can use funds for ongoing network management and monitoring — not just the hardware itself.

 

That means IT leaders can finally shift some connectivity costs from CapEx to OpEx while ensuring every access point, switch, and firewall is proactively supported.

 

Pro tip: When filing your Form 470, request all three service types — Internal Connections, Basic Maintenance, and MIBS. This ensures that if your project evolves mid-cycle, you won't lose funding for related services.

 

2. It Bridges the IT Staffing Gap

 

Many districts run lean on technology staff. MIBS lets you outsource network operation and monitoring so your IT team can focus on supporting teachers and students — not troubleshooting Wi-Fi.

 

With Vision Net, your school gains a Montana-based partner that monitors your environment 24/7, ensuring your network runs smoothly across every campus. We become an extension of your IT team, not a replacement — taking on the network headaches so you can focus on learning outcomes.

 

3. It Future-Proofs Learning Environments

 

Vision Net's MIBS solution is powered by Juniper Mist's AI-native platform, which continuously learns from network behavior to predict and prevent problems before they happen.

 

Instead of waiting for tickets to roll in, the network self-optimizes. Schools gain real-time visibility across users, devices, and classrooms — improving both reliability and student experience.

 

That's what we mean by proactive connectivity: smarter automation that keeps lessons running, even when your IT team is stretched thin.

 

4. Timing and Compliance Matter

 

E-Rate planning is a year-round process, but the most important window runs from July through February. Form 470 applications and RFPs typically go live in late fall through early winter, with funding decisions made in the spring.

 

Now is the time to review your technology roadmap and include MIBS in your 470 filings before the deadlines hit. Vision Net's experienced account team can help you structure your requests to maximize Category 2 funding and ensure full compliance.

 

5. Local Partners Understand Local Challenges

 

Montana's schools shouldn't have to depend on out-of-state providers to stay connected. Vision Net operates the state's largest privately-owned fiber network — an 800 Gbps backbone with triple-ring redundancy and local support centers in Billings, Great Falls, and Helena.

 

We've supported K-12 education since the start of the E-Rate program, combining national-caliber technology with the personal service only a local team can provide.

 

With Vision Net, you're backed by experts who understand Montana's geography, budgets, and classrooms — because we live and work here too.

 

Ready to Simplify Your Network?

 

Managed Internal Broadband Services make it easier to keep students and staff connected — securely, reliably, and affordably. Whether you're planning your next E-Rate cycle or exploring smarter network management, Vision Net can help you design a strategy that fits your district's needs.

 

Watch Our On-demand E-Rate Webinar: E-Rate 2026 & MIBS — What Schools Need to Know

Talk With a Specialist

 

Getting to know Vision Net’s Wholesale Services Department

Like most companies, Vision Net comprises numerous departments working together to deliver on the company’s mission. Business operations, sales and marketing, engineering and network operations, and finance and accounting are familiar terms. But mention "wholesale services" and many people immediately think of one specific industry. 

In response, Vision Net’s Wholesale Services Manager Lee Kimmet is quick to point out that "we're not a trucking company, although there are some commonalities—for example, logistics, reliability, dedication, and service.”

So, what exactly is wholesale services in the telecommunications industry, and what does the Vision Net wholesale services team do? Kimmet, who has been with Vision Net for over 16 years and leads a team of 12, spent some time answering our most pressing questions. 

Q. First things first, what is the wholesale services department?

A. The wholesale services department provides fiber optic services such as Carrier Ethernet, Wavelength, Wireless/Mobile Backhaul, SONET/TDM, and Dark Fiber. The wholesale network spans state-wide and includes more than 5,000 miles of fiber, complimented by connectivity throughout the United States and Canada. My team and I are highly motivated to maximize efficiencies and find scalable solutions for our customers. We are in the business of providing bandwidth, and our network can provide a lot of it.

Q. And what types of service do you deliver?

A. Vision Net's Wholesale Services include both technology and operational solutions. Technology services include Carrier Ethernet, Wavelength, Wireless/Mobile Backhaul, SONET/TDM, and Dark Fiber. Operational services involve single-source contact, reliable and scalable solutions, one supplier dedicated sales and account team, customized billing, and superior, 24x7 monitoring and support.

Q. How has the department—and your work—changed over the past ten years?

A. The wholesale services department has evolved with technology advancements. The network started as a SONET/TDM based system supported by copper and fiber facilities and has evolved into a DWDM network. DWDM means Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing, a fancy way of saying we leverage technology to increase bandwidth over existing fiber networks. Today's emphasis is on supporting fiber optic services that support various technologies, with SONET/TDM now only being a small portion of those services.

Q. And what factors have brought the most changes to Wholesale services?

A. We continue to see increased demand for more scalable bandwidth and network reliability as users' needs change and evolve. Driving much of this is the increase in data transfer and storage along with gaming, video, and connected devices. People, businesses, schools, and other organizations need better and faster connectivity in today's world.

The network continues to grow to meet the increasing bandwidth demand. Whereas once we provided T1 (1.5Mbps) and DS3 (45Mbps) services to our customers, we now deliver 100Mbps, 10Gbps, 100Gbps, and more. It's essential to have a scalable and reliable network to meet bandwidth requirements.

Q. What makes the Vision Net Wholesale Services department unique in the marketplace?

A. One of the key differentiators is our ability to provide diverse fiber optic routes that other providers cannot, often a pressing issue in a rural state. We find and develop creative solutions to the challenging needs of our customers.

Q. In what sector are you seeing the greatest growth?

A. Carrier Ethernet—which provides carrier-class Ethernet services— increases exponentially. It wasn't too many years ago that our primary services were T1 and DS3 services, and today we provide 1G and 100G services. Businesses need reliable bandwidth with low latency to operate in today's market efficiently.  

Q. What's your favorite part of the job?

A. My favorite parts of the job are the challenge and reward of solving customer needs and managing the great team of dedicated people in the wholesale services department. If you'd like to learn more about Vision Net's Wholesale Services department, don't hesitate to get in touch with Lee.

The Year in Review

By Corey Jensen.

It's hard to believe that we are at the end of yet another year. December is a time of deep reflection for many of us, an opportunity to review where we've been and what we've done while looking ahead to the new year and all that we hope to achieve.

I think it's fair to say that the past two years have been trying. Individuals, families, and businesses have adapted to a new normal ushered in by the coronavirus. Many of the changes the pandemic wrought have been difficult, but I've been impressed with people's ability to rise to the occasion, embrace new opportunities, and, often, exceed expectations.

This certainly holds true for Vision Net. As I take stock of the past year, I'm struck by the continued dedication, hard work, and excellence demonstrated by our employees. In our now 26-year-history, the operational and financial performance has never been greater at Vision Net. I am incredibly proud of this achievement. Underpinning this extraordinary success is a strong company culture of teamwork, self-reliance, and mutual respect. The Vision Net culture manifests itself across our high-functioning teams where tenacity and agility are encouraged and supported.

Agility—or more pointedly, the ability and willingness to pivot—has proven time and again critical to our success. A few years ago, we made the hard decision to exit two long-time business lines. Both had been central to our business model for decades. It would have been easy to stay the path, but the world—and the needs of businesses operating within it—was changing. To remain relevant—and quite frankly, solvent—we had to pivot away from what had become a low-margin business to higher demand and higher-margin products.

These were not easy decisions, but they were the right decisions for the longevity of our business. I take great pride in our employees' willingness and ability to move swiftly to capitalize on these market changes while avoiding the self-defeating argument: "But we've always done things this way." If I've learned one thing from the past two years, it's that the status quo is never assured. 

Looking ahead to 2022, I see changes on the near horizon brought about by the pandemic. More than ever, our clients are seeking simplicity. One example of this is the positive feedback on the Vision Net invoicing system that provides one easy-to-understand page rather than pages and pages of complex terminology. We want to make life easier for our clients however we can. And while this may seem like a funny thing to single out, I think it captures the sentiments of many: after two highly demanding years, the simpler, the better. For me, this is a bellwether of a growing demand for ease of use across all touchpoints.

As the pandemic continues to impact us, constantly shifting how and what we perceive to be our new normal, I think this idea of simplicity has tremendous value. Let's make things easier for our clients, not harder. Let's take some stress off their plates however we can. Baking it into the Vision Net experience—both for customers and our teams—is the goal that will guide us into the new year.

Network security in a rapidly-changing workplace

By Gary Evans.

In previous articles, my colleagues discussed the enormous changes ushered in by the Covid-19 pandemic. As the virus endures and businesses continue to rethink their work model (remote, in-person, or a hybrid of the two), network security must remain front of mind. Your firm’s security investment—and this includes time, money, and personnel—is critical as it protects revenue and reputation.

How comfortable are you doing business with a firm that has suffered data breaches? Probably not very. Your customers hold the same expectations of you. Taking the time to properly protect your data and the equipment that stores it will go a long way to fending off network attacks such as ransomware, intellectual data theft, and CEO fraud (where someone pretends to be your CEO or other C-suite executive to access business funds).

Security, then and now

Prior to the pandemic, security plans focused heavily on the workplace—be it one building or numerous sites—and the employees and equipment within it. IT departments would perform updates, fixes, and other tasks necessary to keep things humming along. That’s not to say there weren’t breaches. There were. But “protecting the perimeter,” as security professionals like to say, was a bit easier. That’s no longer the case.

Today, the perimeter is vastly expanded. Workers might log in from home, a coffee shop, or a VRBO. Which means they’re using myriad Internet connections to tap into the firm’s servers.  And many are on personally-owned equipment—be it a cell phone, tablet, or desktop. This is a change from years past when almost all workers were chugging along on company-issued technology. If your employees are using their own equipment, you need to know what security systems they have in place and how often they are updating that security.

Best Practices                                                                                                      

In a video interview, Vision Net cybersecurity expert Ben Mayo discusses key steps to bolstering network security. I’ve compiled some of the most critical steps below:

  1. Education first. Make this the foundation of your security program. Focus on people, process, and procedures. Teach your people to recognize and report threats. And make sure this is part of the onboarding process for any new employee.
  2. Update your devices regularly. Security is not a one-and-done deal. You must stay on top of it to stay ahead of threats. Security patches and software updates are there for a reason. Use them across your PCs, phones, firewalls, and network gear.
  3. Provide remote employees with company-owned devices. Ben calls this “defending the end points.” Include end point device purchases in your fixed asset budgets to ensure your employees can rely on secure company-owned devices when traveling or working at home. Ensure all devices are protected with the best possible end point security solution such as Vision Secure, Vision Net’s suite of next generation anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-scripting software. Combining industry leading end point protection, end point detection, and response, our Vision Secure suite positions your remote and corporate staff to be safe and secure regardless of network or location.
  4. Know what’s on your network. This includes hardware and software. When you know exactly who’s logging in and on what equipment, you can leverage the most comprehensive security measures for your situation.
  5. Access the experts. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) provides more best practices in its Top 18 Critical Security Controls: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-list/

Another best practice? Continual monitoring and support. If you have the manpower, you can do this yourself. Most companies hire a third-party firm such as Vision Net to manage this critical step. Make sure the firm you work with offers 24/7/365 network monitoring. Threats often reveal themselves outside of typical business hours. Additionally, be sure any network security firm you hire is equipped to support you with problem-solving as needed.

The Right Mix of Security and Solutions

Reducing exposure to cyber security threats requires investment, planning, employee engagement via education, and continuous attention. But don’t confuse quantity with quality. Having the right mix of security tools and solutions is essential. Sometimes, people think more is better, but that isn’t always the case. The most important thing is that you are deploying the right solutions. Good security protects revenue, assets, and reputation. These days, it’s also a key product differentiator among discerning customers.

Marketing in the ever-changing telecommunications space

by Thaisa Souza

Not a day goes by that I don’t read or hear about the rapid transformation happening in the technology sector. Often, this news is focused specifically on telecom—the industry responsible for transmitting information through voice, video, or data—via wire, mobile, fiberoptics, and satellite.

As a telecom marketing professional, I get many questions about how these changes impact Vision Net’s marketing strategy. Here are a few of my recommendations for marketing in the ever-changing telecom space.

  1. Marketing strategy doesn’t change as much as marketing tools do.

You know that saying: the more things change, the more they stay the same. This is also true in marketing. Particularly in Martech—the intersection of marketing and technology—where the tools available to professional marketers are rapidly evolving, including copywriting by AI, chatbots, and email automation to drive drip campaigns. But one thing that remains the same is storytelling. Storytelling is at the heart of any good marketing campaign, allowing us to respond to the emotional needs of our clients while providing valuable product details and insights.

Years ago, most companies interacted with their clients through sales teams, products, and possibly public relations to garner media coverage. And still, sales and communications are significant in any comprehensive marketing campaign.

But today, there are many more client touchpoints. Through web and social media sites, firms can more easily connect with their audiences. Likewise, the client is empowered to learn more about the businesses they want to work with. 

Social media, for example, has been a game-changer. Just ten years ago, a business could get by without a social media presence. Not today. Clients will seek you out on social sites to gain greater insight into your company and your values. Today’s consumer digs deep to find out who are you as an employer, a community member, and a brand. They are essentially asking themselves, “do our values align?” “Do I want to do business with this firm?” Your marketing must provide insights that help shape these perceptions.

2. Be strategic with how and where you share content

Clients must know you to trust you. You can share who you are as a company by using content to reveal your services and values. At Vision Net, we’ve put this idea front and center in our marketing strategy, pulling back the curtain so that our employees, company, events, and products are more visible. For example, we’ve profiled our team members in short video interviews, shared a series of photo updates on improvements made to our lunch and employee break rooms—including employees enjoying their new spaces, and have shared on social media our participation in community events such as the Special Olympics. With today’s conscious consumer and the greater emphasis on corporate responsibility, brands are expected to share their company culture and the many ways they contribute to their local communities.

The best content is built around themes that share company values while helping further business and sales goals. Ideally, it will be written so you can repurpose it through different forms of content, such as transforming a how-to article into a webinar.

This leads to my next recommendation: decide which sites and tools to leverage based on your customer demographic. Where do your customers go for information? Are they active on social sites like LinkedIn or Facebook? Put your content where your clients can find it.

For example, Vision Net leverages content tools such as case studies, thought leadership articles, blog posts, videos, and graphics on LinkedIn and Facebook to reach clients on those channels. The goal is to provide valuable content and insights to our clients, building trust and credibility upfront.

Additionally, we’ve experimented to determine how often our customers and followers want to see new content (e.g., how many times a day; how many times each week) on social media and our website. It’s worth it to take the time to track visits, comments, and shares to better understand your audience’s needs and wants.

3. Base Your Decisions on Insight

Data now drives everything, providing real-time insights into consumer behavior and preferences, product performance, search engine optimization (SEO), browsing behavior, and email drip campaign response. With the right tools, you can mine your data to determine what’s working and what isn’t and then inform future marketing efforts with the goal of improving conversion rates.

Before big data and database marketing, businesses had to guess many of the specifics of their campaign, then wait for its end before evaluating if it was successful. Fortunately, today’s marketer no longer needs to rely on intuition. With data in hand, marketing professionals can accurately track and monitor in real-time an ongoing campaign, conduct A/B tests, measure results, and analyze the impact. Even better, necessary adjustments can be made immediately rather than weeks or months later. These powerful tools empower businesses to improve client messaging and efficiency across campaigns, delivering greater ROI.

B2B organizations ready to adapt to this new data-centric landscape increase their odds of rising above the competition and ultimately see growth in sales.

At Vision Net, there are multiple ways we collect and analyze data. For example, a digital email campaign allows us to track how many email opens and clicks we receive and from what audience. From here, we can easily determine which message or set of messages was most effective and then adjust accordingly. With a print ad, you don’t have this same opportunity to fine-tune a message mid-campaign.

One thing we’re watching closely at Vision Net is the change in third-party tracking. Previously, advertisers collected customer data with these cookies, tracking users between websites and displaying ads relevant to their browsing history. To be sure, this is a rapidly evolving landscape, with new—sometimes existing—data mining approaches announced almost weekly. Companies such as Google are trying to balance customers' needs who pay for data to drive their online advertising campaigns with those of the search engine user, now questioning how much of their personal data is and should be available for corporate consumption. It remains to be seen what new methods surface from this change and take hold, but it will be important to stay informed and understand how best to use what comes next. Because in tech and certainly with data collection, there is always a next.

It is no longer enough to simply promote your products or your brand. Savvy marketers recognize the many opportunities and tools available and leverage those to best meet their needs and the needs of their clients. But don’t let Martech distract you; most of the times, your company doesn’t need all the bells and whistles. Put more succinctly, sharing product specs, having the new shiny AI tool is great. Providing a deep dive into the values, passions, and people that drive your company via tools that resonate is even better.