History

History of FiberLight

1993

ACSI Founded
American Communications Services, Inc. (ACSI) was founded as a Competitive Access Provider (CAP). After its formation, ACSI quickly became one of the fastest growing providers of voice, data and internet services in the United States.

1994

Internal Division Makes Record Accomplishments
ACSI formed an internal division to plan, design and build the telecommunications infrastructure required to support its high growth strategy. This division was responsible for the most rapid network deployment in the CLEC industry—building over 1,000 miles of telecommunications network infrastructure between 1994 and 1997 in 30 cities in less than 30 months.

1998

ACSI Changes Name to e.spire Communications
In 1998, anticipating the opportunities that a newly deregulated telecom industry would bring, the Company made two significant changes. First, the Company changed its name to e.spire Communications, launching its new identity as an Integrated Communications Provider (ICP).

e.spire Creates Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ACSI Network Technologies
Second, ACSI spun off its network development division and created a wholly-owned subsidiary, ACSI Network Technologies, Inc. (ACSI NT) ACSI NT’s purpose was exclusively network development and it drew upon the established good will of its parent company and its network development expertise to offer customers quality network infrastructure products unique in the market.

1999

Announces $100 Million in Contracts
In just over one year from its inception, ACSI NT reached a milestone of $100 million in sales to customers who included leading telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers (ISPs), utilities, corporations, municipalities and school districts.

Builds and Leases Fiber Optic Networks in Major Tier 1 Markets
ACSI NT began construction of fiber-optic networks in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Tampa and offered them to customers seeking connectivity to Local Serving Offices, Interexchange Carrier POPs, Carrier Hotels, Carrier Neutral Facilities, and Customer Premise sites.

2000

Establishes Collocation and Fiber Monitoring Products for Dark Fiber Customers
ACSI NT began to provide collocation space within its facilities for Dark Fiber customers to install network equipment. Collocation arrangements allow customers faster market entry and lower the cost of locating space, site preparation, procuring and installing power, security, and disaster recovery. In addition, ACSI NT began to offer 24×7 network monitoring services to evaluate fiber condition, observe degradations and breaks, and transmit alarms to the appropriate operations center.

Strategically Extends Fiber into Bell Local Serving Offices
ACSI NT formed strategic arrangements in specific markets to extend its networks into key Local Serving Offices (LSOs), which, by extension, provide its customers with enhanced connectivity to the ILEC networks and faster market entry.

2001

Hits $300 Million in Contracts
ACSI NT completed a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) survey of its networks and began performing all in-house locating services for its current networks. ACSI recorded a milestone of $300 million in aggregate sales for dark fiber and innerduct.

2002

ACSI NT Purchased; Changes Name to Xspedius Fiber Group
ACSI NT was purchased by Xspedius Communications, LLC and changed its name to Xspedius Fiber Group. Xspedius Fiber Group began to offer complete splicing services—a major benefit to its fiber customers.

2003

Xspedius Fiber Group Supports Homeland Security and develops multiple strategic partnerships to offer a complete, turn-key solution to a wide variety of customers.
Xspedius Fiber Group responded to government Homeland Security initiatives and contracted to provide $6 million in services to several critical government agencies and created partnerships with Capstone Systems, Turin and Harris to offer a complete turnkey solution to its customers.

2004

Xspedius Fiber Group spins off from Xspedius Communications, LLC
Xspedius Fiber Group spun off from Xspedius Communications, LLC. Early 2004 accomplishments have included lucrative contracts with Qwest Government Systems, Looking Glass, Broadwing, and Wil-Tel.

2005

FiberLight LLC is created when Xspedius Fiber Group sells to management and Thermo Telecom Partners
As a result of successful financing efforts, Management and Thermo Telecom Partners purchase the assets of Xspedius Fiber Group and eliminate the majority of debt. The new entity created is FiberLight, LLC.

2007

FiberLight LLC Launches Flagship LightSource Product Line
Leveraging the significant fiber assets throughout 8 core metro areas, FiberLight partner’s with Fujitsu to launch a full line of managed optical transport services, branded LightSource.

2008

FiberLight LLC Grows Organically Expanding Market Presence and Route Miles
Capitalizing on key markets such as Washington D.C., Dallas, Miami and Atlanta FiberLight delivers growth of over 80% for revenues and adds over 10% in new fiber route miles to its total inventory in one year.

2009

FiberLight LLC Completes Major Expansion to Culpeper VA, Buys Waco Network and Turns Up Texas Long Haul
Delivering over 112% growth for the year, FiberLight completed a number of strategic expansions to help position the company for even more growth in the future acquiring a 20-mile network in Waco, TX, expanding the product line to include Texas long haul and turning up the first portion of the network and the completion of a 132 mile network from FiberLight’s existing network in Washington D.C. diversely and underground to Culpeper, VA.

2010

FiberLight LLC completes a major expansion from Baltimore, MD, to Washington, D.C. and begins expansion to Charlottesville, VA and adds Dedicated IP to the LightSource Product Line

Continuing the trend of organic growth and significant network expansion, FiberLight completed a number of strategic builds to help position the company for even more growth in the future.  The company expanded the current Maryland network more than 105 route miles, initiated a build from Culpeper, VA to Charlottesville, VA and completed a 30-mile expansion in South Florida. In addition, 2010 marks the first year FiberLight introduces their own AS# and IP backbone product, delivering high-speed IP connectivity to enterprise clients across the 21 market footprint.