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First Towers & Fiber Corp. Owns the Largest Dark Fiber Network in Central Mexico

First Towers & Fiber Corp. (NASDAQ: AKAN) owns an approximately 700-kilometre dark fiber network in Central Mexico, described as the region's largest.

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First Towers & Fiber Corp. (NASDAQ: AKAN) owns an approximately 700-kilometre dark fiber network in Central Mexico, described as the region's largest. The network serves major industrial corridors and was built under a 20-year lease with Telefónica, which leases two fiber pairs as anchor tenant.

FTF also leases capacity to Marcatel, says the network was designed for scalability and redundancy, and the company plans to pursue additional dark fiber lease agreements beginning in 2026 to increase recurring revenue with limited incremental capital investment.

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Positive

  • 700-km dark fiber network, largest in Central Mexico
  • 20-year long-term lease with Telefónica as anchor tenant
  • Existing commercial lease to Marcatel
  • Network designed for scalability and redundancy enabling low-capex expansion

Negative

  • Revenue exposure concentrated in Central Mexico
  • Anchor tenant currently leases only two fiber pairs, indicating tenant concentration risk
Argus Feb 27 session
+13.05% close to close Open Argus
Details

News Market Reaction – AKAN

On Feb 27, the day this news came out, AKAN closed 13.05% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Feb 27 session.

Market Context

On Feb 27, the day this news came out, the stock closed 13.1% above the previous close. A strong pos...
Analysis

On Feb 27, the day this news came out, the stock closed 13.1% above the previous close. A strong positive reaction aligns with Akanda’s narrative of leveraging First Towers & Fiber’s assets to build recurring revenue. The company highlighted a 700-kilometre dark fiber network, a 20-year lease with Telefónica, and additional capacity for new tenants, all while the stock traded far below its 52-week high. Investors would still need to weigh prior dilution from convertible notes and the longer-term downtrend versus this infrastructure growth story.

Key Figures

Current price: $0.9199 52-week range: $0.8111–$46.45 Dark fiber length: 700 kilometres +5 more
Current price
$0.9199
Pre-news trading level
52-week range
$0.8111–$46.45
Price vs. 52-week low/high before news
Dark fiber length
700 kilometres
Size of FTF dark fiber network in Central Mexico
Dark fiber lease term
20 years
Long-term lease agreement with Telefónica
Fiber pairs leased
2 fiber pairs
Capacity leased by Telefónica as anchor tenant
Network tenants
Telefónica and Marcatel
Existing dark fiber lessees on FTF network
Expansion timing
Beginning in 2026
Planned pursuit of additional dark fiber leases
Market cap
$1,899,149
Equity value prior to this news

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 23
5 events
  1. Jan 23

    Convertible note closing

    24h Move
    +11.1%

    Closed $7.0M 12‑month convertible promissory note financing.

  2. Jan 20

    Convertible note deal

    24h Move
    +41.7%

    Announced $7.0M convertible note private placement with use-of-proceeds detail.

  3. Jan 08

    Reverse stock split

    24h Move
    -14.8%

    1-for-5 reverse split reducing outstanding shares from ~10.1M to ~2.0M.

  4. Dec 18

    Policy commentary

    24h Move
    -7.5%

    Welcomed potential U.S. cannabis rescheduling from Schedule I to III.

  5. Dec 05

    Telecom strategy

    24h Move
    -0.9%

    Highlighted 30 towers, 700 km dark fiber, and Mexico telecom expansion plans.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

dark fiber, fiber pairs, telecommunications infrastructure
3 terms
dark fiber technical
"plans to further expand the leasing of its approximately 700-kilometre dark fiber optic network"
Dark fiber is unused or unlit optical fiber cable installed in the ground or buildings that can carry data but currently has no active equipment powering it. Investors care because it’s a physical, long-lived infrastructure asset that can be leased or activated to quickly expand network capacity without laying new cable, offering steady, contract-based revenue potential but also requiring upfront capital and facing technology and demand risks.
fiber pairs technical
"anchor tenant and currently leases two fiber pairs on the network"
Fiber pairs are two strands of optical cable used together to carry data in opposite directions, like two lanes on a road—one for traffic going each way. For investors, the number of fiber pairs in a network determines how much capacity, redundancy and potential revenue (through leasing or carrying traffic) the asset can support, affecting valuation and future growth of telecom infrastructure.
telecommunications infrastructure technical
"an emerging telecommunications infrastructure developer in Mexico"
Telecommunications infrastructure is the physical and digital network—cell towers, fiber-optic cables, data centers, satellites, switches and routers—that carries phone calls, internet traffic and data between people and businesses. Investors care because it is the backbone that enables modern services: its condition and capacity drive revenue potential, require large upfront spending, and are sensitive to demand growth, regulation and technology upgrades—think of it as the highways and utility lines that keep the digital economy moving.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2026) - Akanda Corp. (NASDAQ: AKAN) ("Akanda") and its 100% owned subsidiary First Towers & Fiber Corp. ("FTF" or the "Company"), an emerging telecommunications infrastructure developer in Mexico, announced today plans to further expand the leasing of its approximately 700-kilometre dark fiber optic network located in Central Mexico. The network represents the largest dark fiber infrastructure in the region, serving several of Mexico's most active industrial corridors and fastest-growing state economies.

The network was constructed following the execution of a 20-year long-term dark fiber lease agreement with Telefónica, the Spanish multinational telecommunications company, which serves as the Company's anchor tenant and currently leases two fiber pairs on the network.

FTF also leases dark fiber capacity to Marcatel, a rapidly growing telecommunications provider in Mexico. The network was designed with scalability and redundancy to support multiple additional tenants and incremental leasing opportunities, allowing the Company to increase recurring revenue with limited incremental capital investment.

The Company plans to pursue additional dark fiber lease agreements beginning in 2026, leveraging its established regional presence, operating experience, and relationships within the telecommunications sector.

Chris Cooper, President of First Towers & Fiber Corp., stated:

"Our dark fiber network was intentionally designed to support long-term scalability. We believe the significant available capacity within the network, combined with increasing demand for high-capacity fiber infrastructure, positions the Company to pursue additional leasing opportunities and enhance recurring revenue over time."

FTF believes that continued leasing of its dark fiber assets will further strengthen its role as a shared telecommunications infrastructure provider supporting growing connectivity requirements across Central Mexico.

About First Towers & Fiber Corp.
First Towers & Fiber Corp. is an emerging developer of telecommunications infrastructure in Mexico, specializing in cellular tower construction and dark fiber networks. FTF partners with national carriers and technology providers to deliver scalable, reliable, and future-ready connectivity solutions, driving both commercial growth and digital inclusion.

For further information, contact:

AKANDA CORP. GENERAL ENQUIRIES
E: ir@akandacorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains " forward-looking statements." Such statements which are not purely historical (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "would," "could" and "estimates") are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future.

Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of Akanda's acquisition of FTF; (iii) the limited operating history of each of Akanda and FTF; (iv) the ability of Akanda and its subsidiaries (collectively, "Akanda Group") to grow and manage growth effectively; (v) the ability of Akanda Group to execute their business plans; (vi) estimates of the size of the markets for Akanda Group's products and services; (vii) the rate and degree of market acceptance of Akanda Group's products and services; (viii) Akanda Group's ability to identify and integrate acquisitions; (ix) future investments in technology and operations; (x) potential litigation involving Akanda Group; (xi) risks relating to the uncertainty of projected financial information; (xii) the effects of competition on Akanda Group's businesses; (xiii) developments and changes in laws and regulations; (xiv) the impact of significant investigative, regulatory or legal proceedings; (xv) general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Akanda Group's products and services; (xvi) the ability to meet Nasdaq's listing standards; (xvii) the ability of Akanda to raise capital, and to issue equity or equity-linked securities in the future; (xviii) the ability of Akanda to manage its significant debt load and liabilities; and (xix) such other risks and uncertainties as are discussed in Akanda's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC or in other documents Akanda files from time to time with the SEC. Akanda expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Akanda's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Akanda assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Although Akanda believes that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Akanda's reports and statements filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285598

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is the size of First Towers & Fiber Corp.'s dark fiber network announced on February 27, 2026 (AKAN)?

The network is approximately 700 kilometres of dark fiber, representing the largest dark fiber infrastructure in Central Mexico. According to the company, it serves key industrial corridors and fast-growing state economies.

What key lease supports FTF's network and how long is it (AKAN February 27, 2026)?

FTF entered a 20-year long-term dark fiber lease with Telefónica, which serves as the anchor tenant. According to the company, Telefónica currently leases two fiber pairs on the network.

Does First Towers & Fiber Corp. (AKAN) already have other commercial tenants besides Telefónica?

Yes, FTF currently leases dark fiber capacity to Marcatel in addition to Telefónica. According to the company, the network supports multiple tenants and was designed to add incremental leases.

How does the network design affect future leasing and capital needs for AKAN?

The network was built with scalability and redundancy, allowing additional tenants with limited incremental capital investment. According to the company, this design aims to increase recurring revenue as new leases are added.

When will AKAN pursue additional dark fiber lease agreements based on the February 27, 2026 announcement?

The company plans to pursue additional dark fiber lease agreements beginning in 2026. According to the company, it will leverage regional presence and industry relationships to seek incremental leasing opportunities.

What investor risks did First Towers & Fiber Corp. disclose about its dark fiber footprint (AKAN)?

The announcement indicates geographic concentration in Central Mexico and that Telefónica remains an anchor tenant leasing two fiber pairs, implying tenant concentration risk. According to the company, these remain facts of the current footprint.

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