TELECOM RAMBLINGS (Robert Powell) – September 24, 2013 – The metro and regional fiber business has a new name to remember, as Tech Valley Communications has rebranded itself as FirstLight Fiber. Meanwhile, they also gained certification with a major wireless operator for their Ethernet backhaul solutions.
FirstLight Fiber’s previous name was derived from the company’s initial geography, i.e. in the Tech Valley region of upstate New York. It therefore didn’t really reflect new presence across upper New England following the acquisitions of SegTel and Teljet (map to the left), and hence a name change was obviously on the way.
As for the new name, it derives from the product they have been going to market with for some time now and leaves plenty of room for further M&A should the opportunity arise. I gotta tell you though, the whole industry has got to be out to confuse me by re-using the same pieces in their names. Firstlight Fiber, FiberLight, Fibertech, Tech Valley, Lightower, Fibertower, Lightpath, First Telecom… It’s a wonder I don’t misquote them all daily, haha.
On the Ethernet backhaul front, FirstLight is now certified with all four major wireless carriers for Ethernet services, positioning them to help with 4G rollouts across the far northeast both on the backhaul and backbone legs.
