Source: Lightower Press Release

Lightower Fiber Networks announced several major expansions of its all-fiber network in Central and Northern New Jersey. In total, Lightower is adding over 100 route miles of new fiber network throughout the counties of Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Middlesex, and Mercer.

Lightower’s New Jersey network expansion program is in direct response to the surging demand for fiber-based networking solutions from Garden State financial institutions, enterprises, educational institutions, and government agencies.  

Financial services firms in particular will benefit from Lightower’s expansion in New Jersey as the company continues to build its fiber network into a growing list of critical financial exchanges and data centers in the area, including Carteret and Piscataway.

Source: Zayo Press Release

Zayo Group announces it will expand its fiber network throughout southern Indiana and into metro Louisville, Kentucky. The build is Zayo’s entrance into the Louisville market adding 60 new route miles and six buildings on-net. With these additional route miles, Zayo’s fiber network in the region totals more than 700 miles.

This 60-mile metro Louisville fiber ring will connect Zayo’s long haul network in Louisville to suburban towns including Jeffersontown, Middletown, Sycamore and Rolling Hills in Kentucky and across the Ohio River into Jeffersonville and New Albany in Indiana. Zayo will provide Dark Fiber, Ethernet and Wavelengths services to the area. The build is scheduled to be complete by end of third quarter 2012.

Source: Zayo Press Release

Zayo Group announced it completed its transaction to purchase Arialink, adding 930 new route miles to the Zayo Network, including 400 miles of dense metro networks in Lansing and Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Michigan network will provide Ethernet, dark fiber and optical transport services across a 437 on-net building footprint in Michigan. The acquisition also provides Zayo with a regional long haul network and connectivity to smaller markets in central Michigan.

Recently, Arialink began construction of a 190-mile network to interconnect major healthcare facilities as part of an FCC grant to the Michigan Public Health Institute, supporting connectivity to healthcare facilities in rural Michigan and bringing broadband services to underserved communities.

The acquisition was funded with cash consideration of $18M, excluding assets and customers related to residential services. Arialink's residential business has been spun out to the previous Arialink owners and will operate under the name Spectrum.