Regional data center and network operator Bluebird Network intends to acquire the middle mile fiber network assets of Missouri Telecom Inc. (MTI). The two companies have signed an asset purchase agreement for the deal, which is expected to close by the end of the year.
Terms of the intended transaction were not released. MTI has 40 route miles of fiber and three points of presence (PoPs) in southwest Missouri. Its footprint includes the cities of Mount Vernon, Monett, Nevada and Aurora. The acquisition will not include MTI’s voice services.
As a result of this and other recent expansions, Bluebird– named after the Missouri state bird– will have added 155 route miles of fiber during the fourth quarter.
“Bluebird is maintaining momentum by constantly looking for ways to connect communities and improve our already stellar network,” Bluebird Network President and CEO Michael Morey said in a press release. “Our acquisition of Missouri Telecom’s middle-mile network assets allows Bluebird to expand and strengthen our network services, specifically for communities in Southwest Missouri.”
Bluebird Network took several steps to enhance its footprint last year.
In November, the company created a diverse 6.25-mile fiber path across the Mississippi River between Hannibal, MO and Quincy IL. The infrastructure supports wavelengths, MPLS and other services along the route, according to Bluebird Network.
In June, the company lit a 300-mile, 4 Gbps circuit connecting St. Louis and Kansas City, MO. The circuit added (9,000 buildings to the Bluebird’s footprint.
In March, Bluebird Network completed a 2.1 fiber mile expansion in Monmouth, IL. The company now has 4.1 fiber miles in the area.
Bluebird Networks offers dedicated internet access, Ethernet, colocation, cloud services to carriers and enterprises in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa and surrounding states. It operates almost 10,800 fiber route miles, serves more than 82,000 on-net and near-net buildings and has 153 PoPs.
