Zayo has taken out its checkbook again to acquire Access Communications, a regional dark fiber network provider, for $40 million as a means to increase its network presence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
By purchasing Access, Zayo will immediately up its metro fiber and on-net fiber footprint. Access currently operates a 1,200-mile metro fiber network that already connects 500 buildings, including major data centers and carrier hotel sites.
As seen with the majority of acquisitions Zayo has made in recent years, Access is another dark fiber provider focused on serving various Minneapolis-based carrier, enterprise and governmental customers, particularly within the education segment.
Zayo said the acquisition will provide benefits to both Access' current customers and its own. It will be able to offer Access' customers a larger set of bandwidth infrastructure products over its broad fiber network, while extending the network reach for its current and new customer targets.
Since Access' network geography and product set is focused on dark fiber, Zayo said it anticipates "a quick network and operations integration process. The transaction, subject to customary approvals, is expected to close quickly and will be funded with cash on hand."
The service provider continues to grow its network by purchasing various regional and national fiber-centric service providers and its own internal fiber network expansion efforts. Through its acquisitions of USCarrier, FiberGate and AboveNet, Zayo's network now includes 74,300 route miles, serving 45 states and Washington, D.C.
For more:
- see the release
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