Zayo Group to Acquire Five CentryTel Markets
(Louisville, Colo.) April 2, 2008 - Zayo Group - a regional provider of bandwidth and telecom solutions - announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the CLEC operations in five markets in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan from CenturyTel, a provider of communications, high-speed Internet and entertainment services.
The markets include Lansing, Mich., Ann Arbor, Mich., Fort Wayne, Ind., Akron, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio. Upon completion, the deal will increase Zayo's core fiber network by approximately 180 route miles, on-net locations by 59 and customer base by several hundred. Zayo currently has 17,000 metro and regional fiber route miles, serving nearly 1,500 on-net locations in 12 states. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008. CenturyTel customers in these five markets will gain access to more fiber-based bandwidth and managed services from Zayo's business units, Zayo Bandwidth and Zayo Managed Services. Carrier and large enterprise customers will have access to Zayo Bandwidth's growing fiber network and small to medium-sized business customers will benefit from Zayo Managed Services' simplified solutions for phone service, Internet access and data and video networking. "This addition signifies exciting growth for the Zayo companies and will strengthen the Zayo Managed Services footprint in the Midwest," said Dennis Kyle, President of Zayo Managed Services. "We are pleased to welcome CenturyTel customers and excited to offer them additional services to meet their business needs."
With three new markets and the addition of key on-net locations, Zayo Bandwidth is continuing its strategy of growing its fiber-based bandwidth solutions, particularly in Tier II and III markets. Zayo Bandwidth customers will now have connections to key carrier locations and central offices in the new markets as well as enhanced coverage in existing Zayo markets of Akron, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Ind.
"We are thrilled to extend our network in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, making good on our mission to maintain a strong and growing fiber network," said John Scarano, COO of Zayo Group and President of Zayo Bandwidth.
About Zayo Group
Based in Louisville, Colo., Zayo Group (www.zayo.com) is a regional provider of telecom services - including bandwidth, voice and managed services - to carrier, enterprise, SME and government customers. Zayo Group provides its service over a fiber network that spans 95 markets in 12 states. Zayo Group consists of three complimentary business units with combined revenue of $160M.
Zayo Group has strong financial backing from five experienced telecom and Internet investors: Battery Ventures (www.battery.com), Columbia Capital (www.colcap.com), Centennial Ventures (www.centennial.com), MC Venture Partners (www.mcventurepartners.com) and Oak Investment Partners (www.oakinv.com). Zayo's significant financial backing provides the flexibility to extend and enhance its services and fiber network to support the ever-increasing bandwidth appetite of its customers.
About Zayo Bandwidth
Zayo Bandwidth owns and operates fiber optic networks in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, providing bandwidth services including private line, wavelength, Ethernet, Internet and colocation. Zayo Bandwidth customers include carriers, web-centric companies, public institutions and enterprises. Zayo's mission is to provide fiber-based bandwidth, responsive solutions and a growing network.
About Zayo Managed Services
Zayo Managed Services provides telecommunications, networking and web-based solutions to businesses, schools, hospitals, financial institutions, government agencies and non-profit organizations across the United States. Large, multi-site corporations to small, single-site agencies rely on the expertise of Zayo Managed Services.
For more information contact:
Joy Milkowski
Access Marketing Company
Joy@GetMoreAccess.com
(303) 625-4088