Tech Valley Communications investing $20M in its network 2012

Tech Valley Communications is investing $20 million this year to build out its fiber optic network, said CEO Kevin O’Connor.

O’Connor said the expansion is taking place throughout the Capital Region, as well as in New Hampshire and Vermont, territory Tech Valley acquired when it bought segTEL of New Hampshire last year.

“We have 775 [fiber-lit] commercial buildings in the Northeast,” O’Connor said.

Tech Valley invested $2 million in the past two years to bring its voice and data product, FirstLight, into 60 downtown Albany buildings.

Most recently, Tech Valley completed bringing fiber into 90 State St. in downtown Albany. The building is owned by real estate developer Uri Kaufman.

Kaufman redeveloped the Harmony Mills plant in Cohoes and has set his sights on Albany International Corp.’s former headquarters in Menands.

“I think this guy’s really been able to figure out a niche for these older, class B and C office buildings,” O’Connor said. “The class A in downtown Albany—80 State St., 677 Broadway—those buildings are all full. It’s these buildings that are a challenge.”

Last year, O’Connor said Tech Valley’s staff would grow to 100 from 65. The company remains on track to do that, he said.

Tech Valley now has 87 employees and O’Connor expects to have 100 workers by the end of the year.

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