FirstLight Completes Acquisition of 186 Communications

Fourth transaction in the past year further advances FirstLight as one of the largest providers of fiber-based, high-capacity services throughout the Northeast

FirstLight, a leading fiber-optic bandwidth infrastructure services provider operating in the Northeast, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of 186 Communications (“186”).  This latest acquisition marks the Company’s fourth successful acquisition in the past year.  FirstLight previously completed the acquisitions of Oxford Networks, Sovernet Communicationsand Finger Lakes Technologies Group (FLTG).  Financial terms of these transactions were not disclosed.

Now that the transaction is completed, FirstLight will combine 186’s high-capacity fiber network in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont with its own expansive fiber network and extensive portfolio of data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enhance its position as one of the largest, most comprehensive, fiber-based communications providers in the Northeast.  The Company now operates approximately 14,000 route miles of high-capacity fiber connecting nearly 8,000 locations and twelve data centers with more than 225,000 square feet of space.

“The past year has been a momentous one of growth and advancement for FirstLight, and today’s completed acquisition of 186 Communications further strengthens FirstLight’s position to best serve our customers,” stated Kurt Van Wagenen, FirstLight President and CEO.  “We are excited to officially combine our operations with 186, and in doing so, extend our network reach even deeper into Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.”

“We have greatly anticipated this day,” added Rob Carmichael, 186 CEO.  “Now as a single organization, FirstLight is well equipped to continue to serve the growing bandwidth needs of businesses throughout the Northeast.”

“The acquisition of 186 represents yet another notable achievement for FirstLight,” said Scott Baker and Benjy Diesbach, Partners at Oak Hill and members of the FirstLight Board of Directors.  “As the fourth in a series of successful acquisitions over the past twelve months, we can confidently say that FirstLight is well positioned to further accelerate growth, and we are excited for all of the opportunities that these acquisitions will continue to create for FirstLight.”