Lightpath, the all‑fiber connectivity provider owned by Altice USA and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, has announced the addition of roughly 150 route miles of high‑density, AI‑grade fiber to its network in the Greater Columbus, Ohio area. The new segment more than doubles Lightpath’s existing footprint in the region, which was 102 route miles when the initial Columbus network was launched in April 2025.
Columbus has emerged as a premier hub for data‑center and AI investment, attracting hyperscale operators that demand ultra‑low‑latency, high‑capacity links. By expanding its presence there, Lightpath positions itself to capture a growing share of the AI workload market and to compete for large‑scale contracts from cloud providers and enterprise customers. The company’s CEO, Chris Morley, said the expansion reflects the “scale of hyperscale demand” and underscores Lightpath’s commitment to meeting the needs of the fastest‑growing segment of the internet.
Altice USA’s Q3 2025 earnings show a 5.4% decline in revenue to $2.11 billion and a net loss of $1.63 billion, largely driven by a $1.6 billion impairment charge. Despite the headline loss, fiber customers grew 46% year‑over‑year to more than 700,000, and mobile lines increased 39% to 584,000. CEO Dennis Mathew highlighted that the company’s “record gross margin performance” and continued investment in high‑margin growth areas—such as Lightpath—are key to sustaining profitability amid a challenging environment.
Management comments reinforce the strategic intent: Morley noted that Columbus “is a leading destination for data‑center and AI investment,” while Altice’s Mathew emphasized the company’s focus on “cost discipline and strategic investments in high‑return verticals.” Lightpath’s EVP of Major Infrastructure Solutions, Tim Haverkate, added that the expansion “strengthens Lightpath’s position as a trusted partner for hyperscale, carrier, and large enterprise customers.”
The expansion aligns with Altice’s broader transformation, including its rebranding to Optimum Communications, Inc. in November 2025, and the long‑term partnership with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, which holds a 49.99% stake acquired in 2020. Together, these moves signal a strategic pivot toward high‑margin, high‑growth infrastructure that can support the company’s goal of reaching 1 million fiber customers by 2026 and 1 million mobile lines by 2027, while reinforcing its competitive stance in the Midwest’s burgeoning AI ecosystem.
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