The Statewide Education Network (SEN) 

​The SEN is the foundation for the state-coordinated "middle-mile," or "broadband highway."
The SEN is a school-centric broadband network built to connect hundreds of New Mexico schools together and provide a more secure internet while enhancing education through shared classes, resources and various services. 

The SEN provides better connectivity and expert network management, especially for rural and sparsely populated areas where IT expertise may not be uniformly available.
Why join​ the SEN?
  • Optimize the connectivity to schools
  • Allow sharing of resources, such as lessons plans, instructional material, learning platforms, professional development
  • Leverage and maximize E-rate funding
  • Reduce administrative burden
  • Reduce cybersecurity risks
    ​(DDoS mitigation, monitoring)
  • ​Same cost to schools (or lower)​
​​​Key Benefits of SEN membership:
  • Direct Access to the Statewide Education Network (SEN)
    • ​Enables high-performance connections to the SEN, which links public schools, libraries, and higher education institutions across New Mexico.
​
  • Enhanced Digital Learning & Administration
    • Supports real-time online learning, remote instruction, and cloud-based tools.
    • Improves performance for student testing, SIS platforms, and distance learning.
​
  • Future-Proof Infrastructure
    • Scalable fiber infrastructure supports increasing data needs over time.
    • Prepares schools for next-gen technologies like telemedicine, virtual labs, and AI-assisted learning platforms.​ ​

GETTING CONNECTED
How do I join the SEN?

CONTACT

Ovidiu Viorica
Broadband Program Manager, BDCP Team
Office of Broadband Access & Expansion (OBAE)
505-270-1355
[email protected]
Statewide Educational Network conceptual map
SEN User Portal Sign-in
Access the User Portal here:
SEN Document Library
Access the document templates here:
SEN Process
SEN PROCESS
  • Establish Nodes
    upgrade electrical and cooling systems for     Higher Ed facilities housing SEN Nodes„ 
  • Establish Major Internet Routes
    identify and add     key “Middle Mile” corridors, closing of rings for resiliency
    (a “box“ around the SEN)
  • Establish “Meet Me” and Aggregation Points
    become launching points for “Last Mile”
SEN Phases
SEN PHASES
Phase 1
  • Nodes in Albuquerque, Socorro, Farmington, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Las Vegas
    (& Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Clovis)
  • Backbone circuits between nodes
  • Commodity Internet in two locations
  • Switch over Last Mile Circuits

Phase 2
  • RFP for additional Last Mile circuits (expiring ‘23/24) – 56 districts/charters
  • Negotiations & Contracting
  • Add schools to the SEN


SEN Diagrams
SEN DIAGRAMS
Diagram of the Statewide Education Network (SEN)

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Phase 1 current implementation - Statewide Education Network (as of Spring 2025)
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Phase 1 current implementation diagram - Statewide Education Network (as end of of Spring 2025)

SEN Operation Timeline

SEN Advisory Committee
SEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
To learn more and join the SEN Advisory Committee, CLICK HERE
​
SEN Announcements
SEN ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ribbon Cutting at Albuquerque School Celebrated Launch of Statewide Education Network

New Mexico’s Public Education Secretary, APS Superintendent, OBAE officials and other dignitaries held a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 15, 2024, to mark the official launch of the Statewide Education Network (SEN). The ceremony marked a milestone in a New Mexico connectivity project that will eventually link hundreds of thousands of students. Dozens of schools have already connected to the school-centric broadband network. The ribbon cutting took place at the 21st Century Public Academy at 10am. Stakeholders and students were joined in the ceremony by New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, the New Mexico Secretary of Education Arsenio Romero, and Acting Director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Drew Lovelace, as well as industry leaders, state legislators, and broadband advocates.​
​

Read the Press Release: Statewide Education Network (SEN) Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

SEN Funding

The Federal Communications Commission has green-lighted more than $500,000 to go toward operations of the Statewide Education Network (SEN). The federal funding comes from the FCC’s Schools & Libraries USF Program, known as the E-rate program, which helps schools obtain internet service. SEN has begun connecting public schools in what will become a statewide broadband network, enabling students to share classes, resources and information and to access educational websites.  
​​CONTACT: [email protected]
​To report waste, fraud, & abuse or learn about the 
​Whistleblower Protection Act, please CLICK HERE
​
To read the OBAE Accessibility Statement or seek assistance accessing website resources CLICK HERE

​connect.nm.gov

©2026 NM OFFICE OF BROADBAND ACCESS & EXPANSION