TL;DR

  • Lightpath is extending its AI-grade fiber network to support two new hyperscale data center campuses under construction in Saline, Michigan and Port Washington, Wisconsin.
  • Each campus is planned to exceed one gigawatt of capacity, requiring route-diverse, multi-terabit fiber connectivity.
  • The projects continue Lightpath’s expansion into the markets where hyperscale AI infrastructure is being built.
  • The deployments highlight the growing role of fiber infrastructure in supporting AI-driven compute demand and next-generation digital infrastructure.

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Artificial intelligence is reshaping where digital infrastructure is built and how networks are designed to support it. As hyperscale data center development accelerates, fiber infrastructure has become a critical component of ensuring these facilities can move the massive volumes of data AI workloads require.

To support this next phase of AI infrastructure growth, Lightpath has announced new fiber builds serving two hyperscale data center campuses currently under construction in Saline, Michigan and Port Washington, Wisconsin. Each campus is planned to exceed one gigawatt of capacity and will be connected through route-diverse, multi-terabit fiber infrastructure designed to support high-capacity, low-latency connectivity.

The Saline deployment is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with the Port Washington build scheduled for the second quarter of 2027. Both projects are being delivered in partnership with an anchor hyperscale customer, extending Lightpath’s AI-grade network into markets experiencing significant investment in AI and cloud infrastructure.

These deployments build on Lightpath’s broader network expansion strategy, following recent growth across Phoenix, Eastern Pennsylvania, Columbus, and the company’s first long-haul corridor connecting Columbus and Chicago. Together, these investments reflect a continued focus on expanding owned fiber infrastructure into the regions where hyperscale computing capacity is growing most rapidly.

“Lightpath is playing an increasingly central role in partnering with hyperscalers to build new fiber infrastructure to address AI-driven demand across the U.S.,” said Chris Morley, CEO of Lightpath. “Fiber infrastructure remains a critical component in the evolving and accelerating AI ecosystem.”

As AI campuses continue increasing in both scale and power requirements, connectivity demands extend beyond simply bringing fiber to a site. Large-scale deployments require engineered, route-diverse networks capable of delivering resilient, multi-terabit capacity while integrating new construction with existing network assets and strategic partner infrastructure.

These latest projects reinforce how AI infrastructure development is changing the geography of network investment. As hyperscalers expand into new markets selected for available land and power, the supporting fiber infrastructure must evolve alongside them to deliver the connectivity these facilities require.

Read more in the press release here.