Lightower Expands Network in Greater Boston Area

Lightower Fiber Networks, a network services provider whose customers include other telecommunications carriers and large businesses, on Wednesday announced an agreement that will provide the company direct access to 225 commercial buildings in the greater Boston area.

Boxborough, Mass.-based Lightower said it has inked a 99-year agreement to lease all remaining fiber-optic network capacity from NSTAR Communications, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Boston-based energy provider NSTAR. 

Lightower said the agreement expands its footprint in the greater Boston area, including within the Route 128 business district.

Backed by M/C Venture Partners, Pamlico Capital and Ridgemont Equity Partners, Lightower sells Ethernet, dark fiber, Internet access and other communications services to its customers, which include AT&T, Bloomberg, HBO, SunGard, Sprint Nextel and Verizon Communications.

In December, Lightower acquired Lexent Metro Connect, a New York-based provider of dark fiber networks. The company said the acquisition provided it access to roughly 200 commercial buildings, expanding its presence in New York City and New Jersey.

Lightower also expects to close its acquisition of Open Access Inc. during the first quarter of 2011. Farmingdale, N.Y.-based Open Access operates a network throughout Long Island and the surrounding areas and provides access to roughly 230 commercial buildings, according to Lightower.