The final leg of connectivity between a service provider infrastructure and the end user home or business. Because it requires branching out to millions of individual locations, this segment is typically the most expensive to build, the hardest to upgrade, and the most common bottleneck for network speeds. It can consist of copper wire, coaxial cable, optical fiber, or wireless links.
We upgraded the core network to 100 gigabits, but the last mile is still old copper so the customers won't see much difference.
Related terms
Local loop
The physical wiring connecting a customer premises to the nearest telephone exchange.
Middle mile
The network segment connecting a provider's core backbone to the local access network.
CPE
Telecommunications hardware located at the subscriber's physical location rather than the provider's facility.
Demarc extension
The physical cabling that connects a service provider's termination point to the customer's networking equipment.