Lightower Expands Chicago Fiber Network

Lightower Fiber Networks is building new fiber rings throughout downtown Chicago and a handful of neighboring communities to make its services available to hundreds of new commercial buildings and data centers throughout the area.

Lightower will also build its network into area interconnection facilities. Businesses, schools and government groups will all have access to the new network and its networking solutions, including Ethernet, wavelengths, dark fiber, Internet access, video transport and managed private optical networks. Customers also gain access to the entire Lightower Network of over 20,000 route miles and 7,500 service locations throughout the Chicago area, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic.

"Chicago is a natural fit for Lightower as we continue our strategy of bringing all-fiber solutions to the places where organizations do business more buildings and more data centers," said Rob Shanahan, CEO of Lightower. "As area businesses, schools and governments require more and more bandwidth, Lightower will be there to supply them with industry-leading solutions.”

Cities and key points along Lightowers network expansion include downtown Chicago; O’Hare International Airport; Lacey Road, Chicago; Oak Brook, Ill.; Elk Grove, Ill.; and Franklin Park, Ill.

Lightower will rapidly deploy this expansion and start bringing customers online in early 2014. The company will add sales and support staff in the region to accommodate new customers.

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