FiberLight deepens Virginia network reach with Metro Fiber Networks deal
FiberLight is acquiring Metro Fiber Networks (MFN), a dedicated fiber provider serving carriers and enterprises in Richmond and Virginia Beach.
This will give FiberLight a more significant presence in Virginia and allow it to pursue new submarine cabling and defense industry opportunities.
After meeting customary requirements, the company expects the deal to close in the second quarter.
Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Low-latency opportunities
Upon completion, the addition of MFN’s assets to FiberLight's existing network in Virginia will add MFN’s high-capacity conduit and fiber network connecting from the Virginia Beach cable landing station (CLS) to Richmond, VA.
Virginia Beach CLS is a central subsea cable landing station supporting TransAtlantic and US-Latin American traffic.
MFN offers dark fiber solutions that provide connectivity to the MAREA and BRUSA subsea cables, which terminate at the QTS Richmond Network Access Point (NAP).
MFN’s route crosses the York River and Hampton Harbor. It provides the most direct path and shortest latency between Virginia Beach CLS and Richmond, a key hyperscale and government data center availability zone.
"This transaction marks a significant milestone for FiberLight as we expand our network to reach Virginia Beach, which hosts the largest defense installation outside of the Pentagon and the largest CLS in the US," said FiberLight CEO Bill Major.
Deepening fiber reach
The acquisition of MFN will allow FiberLight to deepen its overall fiber reach.
MFN’s Virginia-based network is an underground high-count diverse dark fiber network that spans 75,000 fiber miles across the Hampton Roads region, including Virginia Beach and the Middle Peninsula, extending to Henrico County.
The network's underground aspect adds to its unique topology and protection from natural weather elements. MFN’s network also includes some subsea segments.
In Virginia, MFN’s assets will allow FiberLight to provide a unique and strategic fiber path that will integrate with its existing dense network in Northern Virginia.
But Virginia is just one part of the growth puzzle.
Gaining access to MFN will allow FiberLight to expand further to Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, and Atlanta.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.