Just shortly after announcing its plans to acquire Arialink, Zayo has completed the purchase transaction. The acquisition adds 930 new route miles to the Zayo network, including 400 miles of dense metro networks in Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan. With an extensive network in Michigan, Arialink complements Zayo’s national footprint.

The network will provide Ethernet, dark fiber and optical transport services across a 437 on-net building footprint in Michigan. Through the acquisition Zayo gains a regional long haul network and connectivity to smaller markets in central Michigan.

Arialink recently began the construction of a 190-mile network to interconnect major healthcare facilities as part of an FCC grant to the Michigan Public Health Institute. This build supports connectivity to healthcare facilities in rural Michigan and brings broadband services to underserved communities.

For more information on Zayo, visit www.zayo.com.

It’s hard to believe that Telecom Exchange 2012 is only two months away. The event promises to be one of the telecom industry’s premier networking opportunities of the summer. On June 27^th at Cipriani Wall Street, NYC, Telecom Exchange will bring together some of the top executives from carrier networks and colocation houses in the NY Metro area for a unique networking experience. The Dark Fiber Community (DFC) is proud to have a presence at Telecom Exchange and encourages all of its members to attend by announcing a 10% discount on registration for DFC members. The current DFC members attending are: AboveNet, ADVA, Allied Fiber, Atlantic-ACM, Cross River Fiber, Cyan, DuPont Fabros, Ekinops, FibroLAN, Global Capacity, Human Productivity Lab, INOC, Io Data Centers, Juniper Networks, MRV Communications, OGC Fiber, Optelian, Sidera Networks, Sunesys, Telarus, Vello Systems, and Vertical Systems Group.

For more information about Telecom Exchange, please see: http://www.thetelecomexchange.com/index.php or contact: info@thetelecomexchange.com

On the heels of their recent Atlantic-ACM U.S. Long-Haul Wholesale Carrier Award for Billing, Zayo Group announces the completion of the 360networks’ long haul network integration. The resulting combined network doubles Zayo’s national network reach, providing coast-to-coast connectivity spanning 45,400 route miles in 42 states and over 70 metro markets.

Completing this integration in less than four months, Zayo links deep metro assets like Denver, Phoenix, Spokane, Las Vegas and others to a broad national footprint for end-to-end connectivity. An important part of Zayo’s acquisition strategy is completely integrating in a timely way while minimizing disruption to customers. The Atlantic-ACM Award for Billing further highlights Zayo’s ability to integrate effectively.

Customers can access the national network across points-of-presence in over 100 markets including smaller markets, such as Boseman and Butte MT, Hudson OH, Wilkes Barre and Erie PA leveraging Zayo’s unique metro fiber assets.

For more information on Zayo, visit www.zayo.com.

Mobile Backhaul Asia’s recent conference in Bangkok was a great success. As a Dark Fiber Community (DFC) Media Partner, Mobile Backhaul Asia partnered with the DFC to further promote its conference to the global community.

The Dark Fiber Community Media Partnership Program was designed to help industry events share news and conference information across the community and open up dialogue to encourage new event attendance. Mobile Backhaul Asia is the DFC’s first Media Partner in Asia and the DFC was happy to help get the word out about the conference and its benefits to those in the mobile backhaul industry.

If your conference or event is interested in partnering with the DFC, email jsa_allied@jaymiescotto.com.

Dan Caruso, CEO of Zayo who recently announced their 20th acquisition plan since inception, kicks off this morning’s panel by saying “its a good time to be in the market if you have fiber”.

Steve Soraporu of Waller Capital Partners stated that fiber infrastructure gives more comfort to financial investors when they see these fiber assets attached to companies’ portfolios.

Rob West of CoBank, a bank in the telecom industry since the 80s, sees a balanced view, loving the growth, but notes that not all companies are equal and cognisant of the fact that “hockey stick” growth doesn’t always turn into revenue, noting that Dan’s company has tremendous access to debt financing, but many others don’t have that type of access.

Dan stated traditionally private companies are valued less than public, often because it’s hard to value public companies.  Private markets, funded by private equity firms who do the necessary due diligence, understand what a company should be worth, beyond EBITDA valuations.

Rob continued, that you have to look beyond current EBITDA, look at the competition, debt values on towers etc. He noted that particularly on CLECs and cable companies, these companies are transitioning their businesses and there are shareholder risks. CoBank is confident on the data side, and where there is not a lot of competition, there is opportunity.

David Parker of RBC Capital Markets noted that people are becoming more familiar with stories, so greater opportunity for investors.

Rob noted that in his world, bank deals are more attractive to bond deals, as if you have growth you need more flexibility. Steve agreed that most people in the room here at COMPTEL, size is key in a high-yield market.

David said in the bank market, it’s simply a different pool of capital.

Moderator Scott Widham of Alpheus Communications asked Dan about price compression. Dan replied with, “are you going to pay for your cell phone usage and expect to cover all the cell tower growth? If so, it will be a price equal to your mortgage.” So technology goes up and price goes down. We publish price trends at Zayo, like average price of OC3. Price per megabit will go down but that’s a good thing.

Steve differentiates between dark and lit fiber. As dark is considered unique and rare, it’s priced differently than lit.  Where there are links, like Zayo’s acquisition of 360, that are unique routes and therefore a different price. Dan agreed, it’s not as simple as price per megabit.

Financial buyers have an appetite to get in the space and looking for repeatable platforms and locations. Steve said part of the reason Zayo had won 360 was there existing synergies. Taking Zayo’s existing customer list and putting it on top of 360′s network, there are both cost and revenue synergies.

David commented that beyond synergies in a M&A, there are relationships you develop, like in the 360 and Zayo deal.

Dan also cited in his acquisitions, such as the recent, AboveNet deal the company is transparent in their financial analysis throughout the M&A process.

Lightower Fiber Networks executives will attend COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2012 Convention & EXPO on April 15-18 2012, in San Francisco, CA. COMPTEL PLUS provides an effective networking environment for discussing new business relationships, as well as for fostering existing ones.

The Lightower Network offers carriers and enterprises unparalleled network density in the Northeast, with over 6,400 route miles of fiber and access to over 2,800 service locations.  The Lightower Network also offers customers a complete suite of state-of-the-art network technologies including Ethernet and wavelength services up to 100 Gbps, as well as industry-leading Ultra-Low Latency solutions.

To meet with a Lightower representative at COMPTEL PLUS, email info@lightower.com. For more information on Lightower, visit www.lightower.com.

Lightower Fiber Networks will showcase its high performance video transport solutions at NABSHOW 2012 on April 14-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lightower offers media customers the most advanced video transport solution with network routes and access to data centers throughout the Northeast. Lightower’s market-leading Video Transport Solutions are purpose-built for numerous video formats including uncompressed high definition video, and offer options for advanced management features and integrated Ethernet networking.  Lightower customizes each video transport solution for each customer, engineers each solution into the Lightower Network, and guarantees performance with service level agreements up to five 9’s.

NABSHOW 2012, organized by the National Association of Broadcasters, will bring together media, content and entertainment professionals from around the world, offering hands-on access to tools and resources that shape the media marketplace.

To meet with a Lightower representative at NABSHOW 2012, please email info@lightower.com or call 888-LT-FIBER. For more information on Lightower and its Video Transport Solutions, visit www.lightower.com.

TELEHOUSE America announces today that Lightower Fiber Networks has expanded its all-fiber network into TELEHOUSENewYork Chelsea, located at 85 10^th Avenue. The network build provides TELEHOUSE clients and partners with a seamless connection to Lightower’s full range of networking solutions through a simple cross connect.

Lightower Fiber Networks is the premier metro fiber and bandwidth provider in the Northeast. The all-fiber network provides enterprises, financial firms, media companies, and service providers access to advanced services including 40G and 100G Ethernet and wavelengths, ultra-low latency networking, dark fiber, private networking, SONET, and video transport.

The extension of Lightower’s fiber network into the Chelsea facility brings expanded options to TELEHOUSE clients and carrier partners. In the heart of the Meatpacking District, TELEHOUSE New York Chelsea is a prime location for firms of all sizes and across varied industries, including finance, legal, media, and healthcare. The facility has over 60,000 sq. ft. of secure colocation space built with N+1 power configurations including 2.5MVA diesel-powered generators and redundant cooling systems.To learn more about TELEHOUSE America, visit www.TELEHOUSE.com. To learn about Lightower Fiber Networks, visit www.lightower.com

Zayo Group President and CEO, Dan Caruso will speak at the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2012 Convention & EXPO taking place on April 15-18 at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco.

Dan will speak on the “Navigating the Capital Markets: Calm Seas or Choppy Waters?” panel held on Tuesday, April 17^th at 9:00am. The session will analyze the telecom industry’s current state of lending, as well as discuss the M&A activity within the marketplace. Panelists will also share their predictions for future telecom financial trends.

COMPTEL PLUS Convention & EXPO is a networking event for innovative communications companies and their supplier partners. With over 210 exhibitors and more than 4,300 attendees, the conference provides an opportunity to discuss industry trends and conduct business.

For more information on Zayo, visit www.zayo.com.

COMPTEL Plus Spring 2012 is right around the corner and is gearing up to be a great event. On April 15-18 in San Francisco, California, the expo will bring together some of the top executives from within the telecommunications industry for a truly unique networking experience at one of the biggest events in telecom. The Dark Fiber Community (DFC) is proud to have a presence at COMPTEL as a variety of  members will be exhibiting, such as: ADVA, Alcatel-Lucent, Capacity, Ciena, Cyan, Ekinops, Fujitsu, Henkels & McCoy, LightSpeed, and Optelian.

The Dark Fiber Community is an online directory for those looking to build new and extend existing dark fiber infrastructures more efficiently and cost effectively. With over 125 members, the DFC is considered an online database for network operators, providing information and contact details for industry leading vendors.

To join the Dark Fiber Community, please contact jsa_allied@jaymiescotto.com