Zayo Group
A communications infrastructure company providing fiber networks, bandwidth, connectivity, colocation, and cloud infrastructure services.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Zayo Group is a communications infrastructure company serving wireless carriers, telecommunications carriers, internet service providers, enterprises, and government agencies. Founded in 2007 by Dan Caruso, John Scarano, and Matt Erickson, the company was built through an acquisition-led strategy that assembled regional fiber operators, data-center businesses, bandwidth providers, and network-services companies into a large-scale infrastructure platform. The company's activities center on the ownership, operation, and commercialization of fiber and related network assets. Its portfolio includes dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet, dedicated internet access, IP connectivity, optical transport, SD-WAN, wireless backhaul, small-cell connectivity, colocation, and cloud-related infrastructure. Zayo's customers use these services to connect data centers, cellular networks, enterprise locations, public-sector facilities, cloud environments, and internet exchanges. The business is primarily wholesale and business-to-business rather than consumer-facing. Zayo expanded rapidly during its first decade. Between 2007 and 2014 it acquired more than thirty companies or operating assets, including Memphis Networx, VoicePipe, Onvoy, PPL Telcom, Indiana Fiber Works, 360networks, and AboveNet. These transactions broadened its geographic footprint and added long-haul fiber, metropolitan fiber, data-center capacity, carrier services, and enterprise connectivity. Later acquisitions added businesses such as Latisys, Viatel, Allstream, Electric Lightwave, Spread Networks, and Optic Zoo Networks. The company also developed a substantial European presence, with European headquarters in London and operations in multiple European markets. Zayo became a public company in 2014 through an initial public offering that raised approximately $600 million. It continued to pursue acquisitions while expanding its fiber routes and network-service portfolio. In 2019, EQT and Digital Colony, now associated with DigitalBridge, agreed to acquire the company. The transaction was completed in March 2020, taking Zayo private. The company subsequently continued expanding through acquisitions and partnerships, including the purchase of QOS Networks, the acquisition of German fiber infrastructure provider Globalways, and a managed-edge partnership with Netskope. Zayo operates a fiber network spanning more than 130,000 route miles across North America and Europe, according to the referenced company description. It also operates a Tier 1 IP network with settlement-free peering with other Tier 1 providers. In 2025, Zayo announced an intended acquisition of Crown Castle's fiber solutions business for $4.25 billion, subject to the applicable transaction process and conditions. The deal reflects Zayo's continuing strategy of scaling its fiber infrastructure platform. Zayo is currently positioned as a privately owned, infrastructure-focused provider supporting the connectivity requirements of carriers, cloud and technology companies, enterprises, and public-sector organizations.
History
Zayo Group was established in 2007 as a Delaware corporation by Dan Caruso, John Scarano, and Matt Erickson. From the beginning, its growth model emphasized assembling communications infrastructure through acquisitions rather than relying only on organic network construction. Its first-year transactions included Memphis Networx, VoicePipe, Onvoy, PPL Telcom, and Indiana Fiber Works. These acquisitions gave the new company a base of fiber, voice, carrier, and regional telecommunications assets. Zayo continued this consolidation strategy in 2008 by acquiring Columbia Fiber Solution, assets from Adesta Communications, fiber assets from Citynet and Northwest Telephone, and CenturyTel regional markets. In 2009 it acquired FiberNet Telcom Group. The following year brought AGL Networks, American Fiber Systems, and data-center and colocation services associated with Dolphini's Cummins Station. These transactions expanded Zayo beyond individual fiber routes and into a broader infrastructure-services model. The company accelerated its scale in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, Zayo acquired the MarquisNet data-center business in Las Vegas and 360networks. In 2012, it acquired AboveNet, FiberGate, Arialink, US Carrier Telecom, First Telecom Services, and Litecast/Balticore. AboveNet and 360networks were particularly significant additions because they strengthened Zayo's long-haul and metropolitan fiber capabilities. By combining these assets, Zayo could serve carriers, internet providers, data centers, and large enterprises across a wider network footprint. Further acquisitions in 2013 included Core NAP, Access Communications, FiberLink, and Corelink Data Centers. In 2014, Zayo added CoreXchange, French network operator Neo Telecoms, and United Kingdom-based Geo Networks. The company also completed an initial public offering in 2014 that raised approximately $600 million. Public-market access supported continued investment and acquisition activity while making Zayo one of the more visible consolidators in the fiber-infrastructure sector. Expansion continued in 2015 and 2016 with the acquisitions of Latisys, IdeaTek Systems, Viatel, a Dallas data center from Stream Data Centers, Clearview International, and Allstream. Allstream was Canada's principal facilities-based inter-exchange carrier and had historical roots in the country's railway-telegraph and telecommunications infrastructure. By July 2016, the company reported that it had completed 39 acquisitions. In November of that year, Zayo announced a $1.42 billion cash acquisition of Electric Lightwave, intended to expand its fiber network in the western United States. Zayo's acquisition program remained active after 2016. In 2017 it purchased Spread Networks, whose network included an approximately 825-mile route between New York and Chicago. In 2018, Zayo announced the acquisition of Optic Zoo Networks, a Vancouver-based fiber operation. These transactions complemented Zayo's existing North American routes and reinforced its focus on long-haul connectivity, metropolitan networks, and infrastructure used by financial, technology, carrier, and enterprise customers. In 2019, EQT AB and Digital Colony announced an agreement to acquire Zayo. The transaction was completed in March 2020, taking the company private. After privatization, Zayo continued to expand its services and geographic reach. In 2022, it announced the acquisition of QOS Networks, adding managed networking capabilities. In 2023, it announced the acquisition of Globalways GmbH, a Stuttgart-based fiber infrastructure and network-services company. In 2024, Zayo appointed Nikos Katinakis as chief technology officer and announced a partnership with Netskope for Managed Edge services. Zayo's present business is organized around communications infrastructure rather than consumer telecommunications. Its network includes more than 130,000 route miles in North America and Europe, and its services include dark fiber, wavelengths, SONET, Ethernet, SD-WAN, IP services, colocation, wireless backhaul, small cells, and cloud-related infrastructure. The company also operates a Tier 1 IP network with settlement-free peering with other Tier 1 providers. In March 2025, Zayo announced its intended $4.25 billion acquisition of Crown Castle's fiber solutions business, continuing the expansion-led strategy that has defined the company since its formation.
- 2025
Crown Castle fiber solutions acquisition announced
[1]Zayo announced an intended acquisition of Crown Castle's fiber solutions business for $4.25 billion.
- 2023
Globalways acquisition announced
[1]Zayo announced the acquisition of Stuttgart-based Globalways GmbH.
- 2022
QOS Networks acquisition announced
[1]Zayo announced the acquisition of QOS Networks to expand its managed networking capabilities.
- 2020
Zayo becomes privately held
[1]The acquisition by EQT and Digital Colony was completed, taking Zayo private.
- 2017
Spread Networks acquisition
[1]Zayo acquired Spread Networks and its important New York–Chicago fiber route.
- 2016
Electric Lightwave acquisition announced
[1]Zayo announced an agreement to acquire Electric Lightwave for $1.42 billion in cash.
- 2014
Initial public offering
[1]Zayo completed an initial public offering that raised approximately $600 million and continued its acquisition-led expansion.
- 2012
Acquisition of AboveNet and other network companies
[1]Zayo acquired AboveNet, FiberGate, Arialink, US Carrier Telecom, First Telecom Services, and Litecast/Balticore.
- 2011
Acquisition of 360networks
[1]Zayo acquired 360networks, strengthening its long-haul and carrier fiber capabilities.
- 2007
Zayo Group is founded
[1]Dan Caruso, John Scarano, and Matt Erickson founded Zayo and began building a communications infrastructure platform through regional network acquisitions.
Products and positioning
A business-to-business communications infrastructure provider focused on fiber networks, carrier connectivity, enterprise networking, data-center interconnection, and related digital infrastructure.
Fiber connectivity
Dark Fiber
Unused fiber strands that customers can light and operate with their own optical equipment. Dark fiber gives carriers, cloud providers, enterprises, and public-sector users control over capacity, network architecture, and service provisioning. Zayo markets dark-fiber routes across metropolitan and long-haul networks in North America and Europe.
Optical networking
Wavelength Services
Managed optical connectivity that provides dedicated high-capacity channels over Zayo's fiber network. Wavelength services are used for data-center interconnection, carrier transport, cloud access, and large enterprise networks that require predictable performance and scalable bandwidth.
Business connectivity
Ethernet and Dedicated Internet Access
Business connectivity services supporting site-to-site networking, internet access, and connections among enterprise locations, data centers, carriers, and cloud environments. These offerings use Zayo's metropolitan and long-haul infrastructure to provide managed connectivity for commercial and government customers.
Wireless infrastructure
Wireless Backhaul and Small-Cell Connectivity
Fiber and related transport services that connect wireless access points, cellular sites, and small-cell deployments to carrier networks. The offering supports mobile-network densification and the transport requirements of wireless operators and infrastructure partners.
Data-center infrastructure
Colocation and Cloud Infrastructure
Data-center, colocation, and cloud-related infrastructure services acquired and developed through Zayo's network and data-center businesses. These services help customers place equipment near network nodes and connect facilities to carriers, cloud platforms, and other critical infrastructure.
Managed networking · 2024
Managed Edge
Managed networking services designed to connect distributed enterprise locations and edge environments. Zayo announced a partnership with Netskope to support Managed Edge services with Secure Access Service Edge capabilities.
Brand decisions
2025
Intended acquisition of Crown Castle fiber solutions businessM&ABackground
Zayo continued pursuing scale in fiber infrastructure and announced a transaction involving Crown Castle's fiber solutions business.
Action taken
Zayo announced its intended acquisition of the business for $4.25 billion.
Intended transaction value. $4.25 billion (2025 announcement)
2024
Managed Edge partnership with NetskopeStrategyBackground
Enterprise customers increasingly require networking and security capabilities at distributed edge locations.
Action taken
Zayo partnered with Netskope to support its Managed Edge services with Secure Access Service Edge technology.
Aftermath
The partnership broadened Zayo's managed connectivity proposition beyond transport and fiber infrastructure.
2022
Acquisition of QOS NetworksM&ABackground
Zayo sought to extend its infrastructure portfolio into managed networking services.
Action taken
Zayo announced the acquisition of QOS Networks from majority owner M/C Partners.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Zayo's managed networking capabilities.
2019
Agreement to take Zayo privateM&ABackground
Zayo had expanded through extensive acquisitions and was operating as a publicly traded communications infrastructure company. EQT AB and Digital Colony proposed acquiring the company.
Action taken
Zayo agreed to be acquired by the two investment firms.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in March 2020, and Zayo became privately held.
Transaction value. $14.3 billion (2019 announcement and 2020 completion)
Recent events
Zayo completes acquisition of Latisys[3]
Reported:
Zayo Group finalized its $675 million acquisition of Latisys Holdings. Zayo said the acquisition had been announced the previous month.
Sources3 sources
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