Lightpath, an all-fiber connectivity provider, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a substantial portion of the assets of United Fiber and Data (UFD), signaling a strategic expansion in its infrastructure capabilities. This move, pending regulatory approvals, is expected to culminate in the third quarter of 2024, marking a significant step in enhancing digital connectivity across key regions in the United States.United Fiber and Data boasts a noteworthy 323-route mile network that stretches from New York City to Ashburn, Virginia. This corridor links the nation’s largest population center with Ashburn, recognized globally as a major hub for data centers and cloud ecosystems. UFD also manages a 79-mile metro network that spans New York City and New Jersey. This includes over 350 connected enterprise and data center locations and features a crucial high-fiber count crossing of the Hudson River. This particular asset is poised to bolster Lightpath’s existing infrastructure, which currently includes three Hudson River crossings.The strategic importance of the UFD acquisition lies in its unique geographical route, which diverges from the conventional long-haul paths along the I-95 corridor. UFD’s network, equipped with the latest optical technologies provided by Ciena, supports high-capacity connections such as dark fiber, Ethernet, and wavelengths up to 800 Gbps. By integrating UFD’s assets, Lightpath will extend its already vast network, which includes over 20,000 route miles and services more than 15,000 locations, including key data centers and cable landing stations along the East Coast. Financial trms of the acquisition were not disclosed.High-Growth Ashburn Data Center EcosystemChris Morley, CEO of Lightpath, highlighted the acquisition as a natural extension of the company’s growing fiber assets in the Greater New York City Metropolitan area. He noted, “The addition of United Fiber & Data significantly boosts our capacity to meet customer demands in the high-growth Ashburn data center ecosystem and dramatically increases our coverage in Manhattan. We will now serve nearly 1,500 enterprise and data center destinations in the area, a fivefold increase over the past three years.”Upon completion of the acquisition, UFD customers will gain access to Lightpath’s comprehensive network and full suite of services, which include Wavelengths, Ethernet, Internet, Private Networks, Dark Fiber, LP FlexNet, Voice, Security Solutions, and other Managed Services. These services are crucial for businesses seeking robust connectivity solutions to major cloud providers and over 140 data centers and 7 cable landing stations.