The acquisition of Metro Fiber Networks will broaden FiberLight’s current footprint in Virginia by integrating MFN’s conduit and fiber infrastructure
FiberLight has entered right into a definitive settlement to accumulate Metro Fiber Networks (MFN), a regional fiber supplier working in Richmond and Virginia Seaside, Virginia. The transaction is anticipated to shut within the second quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing circumstances. Phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
The acquisition will broaden FiberLight’s current footprint in Virginia by integrating MFN’s conduit and fiber infrastructure, which connects Richmond to the Virginia Seaside cable touchdown station (CLS) — a key hub for transatlantic and Latin American subsea cables and a strategic gateway for international web site visitors.
“The acquisition of MFN is vital to our means to service hyperscalers, help the info middle migration south from Ashburn and meet the wants of different carriers, the U.S. authorities and public sector entities — resembling colleges — in addition to enterprise companies,” FiberLight CEO Invoice Main additional advised RCR Wi-fi Information.
He additionally positioned the acquisition inside the bigger context of worldwide fiber infrastructure: “Moreover, in February, Meta introduced ‘Challenge Waterworld,’ a 31,000-mile fiber cable that may span the globe, highlighting the rising demand for international connectivity and the significance of strategic fiber infrastructure like ours,” he stated.
MFN’s route, which crosses the York River and Hampton Harbor, gives a direct, low-latency path between Virginia Seaside and Richmond. That hall is an more and more necessary zone for hyperscale knowledge facilities and authorities infrastructure, and MFN’s belongings are anticipated to enhance FiberLight’s current community in Northern Virginia and the broader Mid-Atlantic area.
This development comes as energy availability turns into a rising constraint for knowledge middle improvement, notably in Northern Virginia, the place restricted entry to electrical energy and utility permits is slowing enlargement. As operators look additional south to construct new campuses, entry to current fiber infrastructure is rising as a aggressive benefit. FiberLight says the MFN acquisition positions it to fulfill demand in areas with larger accessible energy and land capability — two vital elements as AI workloads drive energy-intensive infrastructure wants.
“Buying MFN accelerates our enlargement south from Northern Virginia, the place land, energy and water are not available to help continued knowledge middle development,” stated Main. “With the AI increase, we’re seeing important demand for distinctive routes, high-fiber-count cables, duct programs and lots of of 400 GB waves. We all know this demand will drive new knowledge middle development in central and southern Virginia… Having the fiber and conduit the place it’s wanted is vital at this distinctive time for our enterprise.”
Based on the corporate, MFN’s infrastructure will help a wide range of prospects that require high-capacity, low-latency connectivity, together with know-how companies, telecom carriers and public sector establishments. The deal additionally continues a broader pattern of fiber community consolidation aimed toward supporting rising demand for broadband infrastructure in each dense and underserved areas, notably in areas underserved by legacy suppliers.
FiberLight is owned by a consortium led by infrastructure funding agency Morrison, together with Australian Retirement Belief (ART) and a managed shopper of UBS Asset Administration. The corporate stated the MFN acquisition additionally lays the groundwork for potential enlargement into markets resembling Charlotte, Myrtle Seaside and Atlanta — cities which can be turning into more and more related within the knowledge middle ecosystem.
FiberLight said it plans to take care of service continuity for MFN’s current prospects in the course of the transition.
For extra from FiberLight, take a look at this episode of Properly, technically… that includes Sue Kelly, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Gross sales, as she breaks down fiber’s vital — but usually missed — function within the 5G period, and what operators and enterprises really need from their fiber companions.
