In the latest episode of Let’s Get Digital, Carrie Charles, host of the show and CEO of tech staffing firm Broadstaff, welcomes Andrés Irlando, President and COO of Zayo Group, for an in-depth conversation on the future of fiber infrastructure, AI, and digital connectivity.
With a career that spans law, government, and telecom, Andrés brings a unique lens to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s digital infrastructure landscape. After 15 years at Verizon, he joined Zayo to help lead the company through its next phase of growth, one driven by innovation, private equity, and entrepreneurship.
That vision is taking shape in real time. Zayo’s recent acquisition of Crown Castle’s fiber assets marks its most significant expansion to date, boosting its national reach, unlocking new metro markets, and positioning the company to support the explosive growth of AI and cloud computing.
“This deal expands our footprint dramatically and strengthens our ability to deliver mission critical connectivity solutions,” Andrés explains. “With nearly 230,000 route miles and almost 100,000 on-net buildings post-acquisition, Zayo is deepening its role as the go-to provider for enterprise, hyperscale, and public sector customers.”
Carrie and Andrés dive into the broader implications for the industry, from enabling AI compute hubs and edge applications to building the fiber backbone that powers modern digital economies. “There’s an arms race in AI infrastructure right now,” Andrés says. “Fiber is the artery that makes it all possible.”
The conversation isn’t just about scale—it’s about impact. Zayo has been a long-standing leader in bridging the digital divide through public-private partnerships, federal programs like E-rate, and strategic infrastructure investments in underserved communities. “This is a classic win-win,” Andrés notes. “We’re delivering value for our shareholders while creating economic opportunity and access for people across the country.”
Andrés also mentions Zayo’s unique culture, rooted in entrepreneurialism, grit, and a customer-first mentality. Since going private, the company has made big strides in maturing operations while staying true to its agile, high-performance roots. “It’s an infectious place to work,” he states. “We’ve retained incredible talent and attracted even more. The energy is real.”
Whether you’re in digital infrastructure, staffing for tech talent, or just want to stay ahead of industry trends, this episode offers an energizing look at the people, technologies, and strategies shaping tomorrow’s networks.
Tune in to the full episode of Let’s Get Digital featuring Andrés Irlando here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/powering-the-ai-revolution-zayos-bold-move-to-lead/id1488656547?i=1000708444525
