Level 3 Bolsters Fiber Offerings With Acquisition Of Looking Glass

Level 3 continued its drive to increase its number of fiber traffic aggregation points by acquiring Looking Glass Networks, a provider of data transport services.

Announced Monday, the $165 million deal calls for Level 3 to pick up Looking Glass' SONET/SDH, Wavelength, Ethernet, as well as dark and lit fiber offerings in the acquisition.

"The acquisition of Looking Glass will enhance our recently announced Level 3 Metro Services business unit," said Kevin O'Hara, president and chief operating officer of Level 3, in a statement.

The firms noted that the Looking Glass network already features 2,000 route miles in 14 metro markets. Looking Glass has lit fiber connectivity to 215 buildings with dark fiber connectivity to 250 additional buildings.

Level 3 said the Looking Glass acquisition will bring the number of its traffic aggregation points directly connected to Level 3 fiber to more than 5,000 in the U.S., counting Level 3's recent acquisitions of Progress, ICG, and TelCove.