Lightower expands Chicago fiber network presence

Lightower Fiber Networks is making itself more valuable to Chicago-based businesses and carrier customers by building out new fiber rings throughout downtown Chicago and the surrounding communities of Oak Brook, Elk Grove and Franklin Park.

The competitive provider said this expansion will make its services available to "hundreds of new commercial buildings and data centers throughout the area."

In addition, Lightower will be building its network into area interconnection facilities, including those in downtown Chicago, Franklin Park and Oak Brook. Area customers will also be able to get access to its broader network of over 20,000 route miles and 7,500 service locations throughout the Chicago area, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. 

It plans to start the expansion immediately and bring customers onto the new facilities early next year. To support the expansion, Lightower is ramping up its Chicago-area sales and support staff.

This expansion builds on the competitive provider's ongoing movement to expand its network throughout the U.S. markets it serves. Complementing its own organic efforts, the service provider completed and integrated the acquisition of seven other regional fiber-centric providers.

One of its biggest deals was the $2 billion acquisition of Sidera Networks, which effectively doubled the size of the company and its fiber network.

Besides Chicago, the Sidera deal gave it expanded network in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metro region. Lightower completed a 1,500-route mile network extension of its fiber network that Sidera began building in May 2012.

For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
Lightower Fiber Networks and Sidera to merge in $2 billion deal
Lightower establishes low-latency route to New Jersey data center
Lightower raises glass ceiling in Central and Northern New Jersey