Missoula groups consider setting up data center at meeting on Tuesday

The Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. and the Missoula Redevelopment Agency will host a meeting Tuesday about the possible establishment of a "fiber hotel" in Missoula.

by Michael Moore- Missoulian

The "fiber hotel" is the business of iConnect, a division of Montana Independent Telecommunications Systems, which is owned by five rural telephone co-ops.

Fiber hotels are essentially data centers, and are used by telecommunications companies, Internet service providers, wireless carriers, e-commerce businesses and municipalities. The "hotel" would house high-tech equipment such as routers, services, switches and data storage devices.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held at Blackfoot Telecommunications on North Russell Street beginning at 11:30 a.m. The meeting lasts until 1:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided.

If you want to attend, RSVP to MAEDC, by phone at 728-3337, or be e-mail at [email protected].