Lightpath to acquire assets of United Fiber and Data to expand network capacity

Lightpath, a prominent all-fiber, infrastructure-based connectivity provider, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of United Fiber and Data (UFD). The deal, pending regulatory approval, is set to finalize in the third quarter of 2024, enhancing Lightpath‘s strategic network footprint between New York City and Ashburn, VA.

This acquisition will integrate UFD’s extensive 323-route mile network, which features high-fiber counts and the latest optical technologies from Ciena, into Lightpath’s existing infrastructure. UFD’s network is uniquely positioned geographically, diverging from the typical long-haul routes along the I-95 corridor, and includes a critical 79-route mile metro network in New York City and New Jersey. This network addition includes over 350 enterprise and data center locations and enhances Lightpath’s capacity across three existing Hudson River crossings.

The integration of UFD’s assets will significantly boost Lightpath’s network, which currently spans over 20,000 route miles and connects more than 15,000 service locations, including over 140 data centers and 7 cable landing stations. The acquisition aims to fortify Lightpath’s ability to offer geographically diverse, high-capacity services to a wide range of customers, from commercial enterprise buildings to major data centers along the East Coast.

Chris Morley, CEO of Lightpath, emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition: “The addition of United Fiber & Data is a natural extension of Lightpath’s expansive Greater New York City Metropolitan fiber assets, increasing our ability to serve high-capacity customer needs into the Ashburn data center ecosystem and further enhancing our Manhattan metro coverage where we will serve nearly 1,500 enterprise and data center destinations, a 5x increase over the past 3 years,” he stated. This move represents a continuation of Lightpath’s strategic investment in creating critical fiber infrastructure in high-growth markets, which benefits a broad spectrum of customers including Enterprise, Hyperscale, and Wholesale sectors.

UFD customers will not only continue to receive their existing services but will also gain access to the entire Lightpath network. This expansion enables enhanced connectivity to over 140 data centers, 7 cable landing stations, and all major cloud providers through Lightpath’s comprehensive service portfolio, which includes Wavelengths, Ethernet, Internet, Private Networks, Dark Fiber, LP FlexNet, Voice, Security Solutions, and other Managed Services.

The acquisition of United Fiber and Data by Lightpath is more than a mere expansion of physical assets; it is a strategic enhancement of the infrastructure essential for the burgeoning demand for high-capacity, diverse connectivity solutions along one of the most crucial data corridors in the United States. It underscores Lightpath’s commitment to not only expanding its service offerings but also to strengthening its market presence in the connectivity sector, promising improved service delivery and operational efficiencies.