FirstLight Fiber adds colocation resources via ColoSpace buy
Fiber-optic network services provider FirstLight says it has acquired ColoSpace a provider of colocation, managed IT services, cloud solutions, and disaster recovery services in New England (see, for example, "FirstLight installs new fiber-optic networks in Maine"). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
FirstLight service enterprise and carrier customers in the U.S. Northeast with fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and unified communications services. The ColoSpace acquisition expands its service mix, according to FirstLight executives. "The acquisition of ColoSpace fits well with our strategy of continuing to enhance our capabilities, and as such, it is an ideal match. Its data centers, located in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, are in the heart of our service territory, and in fact, are currently connected to FirstLight's fiber network. ColoSpace's product portfolio is not only complementary but deepens and expands our service portfolio," said Kurt Van Wagenen, president and CEO of FirstLight. "Now that this transaction is complete, we have added four data centers, with nearly 20,000 square feet of space, to our 11 existing, strategically located facilities. In addition, ColoSpace's expertise in cloud and managed IT services will enhance our capabilities to the benefit of our customers."
"Since founding ColoSpace nearly 20 years ago, we have been singularly focused on delivering high quality, innovative solutions to our customers,” said Aaron D. Sawchuk, ColoSpace co-founder and chairman, who will remain with the organization to help lead the data center/cloud business. “As enterprise cloud adoption continues to accelerate exponentially, comprehensive IT solutions coupled with scalable, low-latency connectivity has become increasingly important to our clients. FirstLight, with its unparalleled fiber network and communications capabilities, is the ideal organization to enable our clients to benefit from these technology trends."
The ColoSpace buy is the latest in a series of acquisitions by FirstLight, including network services providers Finger Lakes Technologies Group, Maine Fiber Co., G4 Communications, and 186 Communications. The company, owned by Oak Hill Partners, also bought installation services company Todd Cable Construction.
For related articles, visit the Business Topic Center.
To stay abreast of high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
To stay abreast of fiber network deployments, subscribe to Lightwave’s Service Providers and Datacom/Data Center newsletters.
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.