Lightpath Awarded GSA Multiple Award Schedule Contract

Rhea-AI Summary

Lightpath (NYSE: OPTU) announced it was awarded a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract on March 10, 2026, enabling streamlined procurement by federal and SLED agencies via GSA eBuy and Cooperative Purchasing.

The contract lists services under Contract Number 47QTCA26D0021. Lightpath describes an all-fiber network spanning 12,100+ route miles, connecting 185+ data centers and 17,500 lit locations, offering up to 800 Gbps capacity to support mission workloads and modernization initiatives.

Positive

• GSA MAS contract enables streamlined procurement for federal and SLED agencies
• Network spans more than 12,100 route miles
• Connects over 185 data centers and 17,500 lit locations
• Supports up to 800 Gbps scalable bandwidth

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Public-sector customers: more than 1,000 customers Network route miles: more than 12,100 route miles Data centers connected: over 185 data centers +3 more

6 metrics

Public-sector customers more than 1,000 customers Education systems, municipalities, transportation and other public-sector

Network route miles more than 12,100 route miles All-fiber network footprint across major U.S. metro regions

Data centers connected over 185 data centers Data centers connected by Lightpath’s network

Lit locations more than 17,500 lit locations Enterprise and public-sector on-net locations

Maximum bandwidth up to 800 Gbps Bandwidth supported by Lightpath’s network

Operating history more than 30 years Duration enterprises and public-sector have used Lightpath

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.48 Vol: Volume 3,102,066 is 1.55x...

high vol

$1.48 Last Close

Volume Volume 3,102,066 is 1.55x the 20-day average of 2,003,946 shares. high

Technical Trading at $1.48, below the $1.70 200-day MA and 30.69% under its 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

No peer stocks in the stated sector appeared in the momentum scan, suggesting th...

No peer stocks in the stated sector appeared in the momentum scan, suggesting this move was more company-specific around OPTU/Lightpath rather than a sector-wide rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 12 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 12	Earnings results	Neutral	+3.7%	Reported Q4 and FY 2025 results with lower revenue and solid EBITDA metrics.
Feb 02	Earnings call notice	Neutral	+3.8%	Announced timing and access details for upcoming Q4 and FY 2025 call.
Jan 28	ESG recognition	Positive	-3.1%	Lightpath achieved a perfect 100 GRESB score and 5-Star ESG rating.
Jan 28	AI network expansion	Positive	-4.8%	Secured third Columbus AI network award, expanding underground fiber route miles.
Jan 15	AI contract growth	Positive	+1.1%	Reported 240% increase in AI-driven awards, reaching $362M total contract value.

Pattern Detected

Recent Lightpath- and OPTU-related headlines (AI build-outs, ESG recognition, and AI contract growth) often showed mixed or negative price reactions, while earnings and scheduling updates saw modest positive moves.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, OPTU and Lightpath news has focused on financial results and network expansion. On Feb 12, 2026, OPTU reported Q4 and FY 2025 results with revenue declines but strong Adjusted EBITDA, and the stock gained modestly. Earlier, Lightpath announced AI build-outs in Columbus and a 2025 GRESB perfect score, yet those drew negative price reactions. A January update highlighted a rise in AI-related TCV to $362M and a larger sales pipeline. Today’s GSA MAS award fits the theme of expanding public-sector and infrastructure positioning.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlighted Lightpath’s award of a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract, enabling ...

Analysis

This announcement highlighted Lightpath’s award of a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract, enabling federal and SLED agencies to procure its AI-grade fiber services via standardized GSA terms and GSA eBuy. It underscored an all-fiber footprint of more than 12,100 route miles, over 185 data centers, and more than 17,500 lit locations. In context of earlier AI-focused expansions and ESG recognition, this news added a public-sector channel dimension, with execution on large contracts remaining an important metric to watch.

Key Terms

dark fiber, ethernet services

2 terms

dark fiber technical

"Lightpath supports dark fiber, wavelength, and Ethernet services with direct operational accountability"

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.

ethernet services technical

"supports dark fiber, wavelength, and Ethernet services with direct operational accountability"

Ethernet services are commercial data connections that let businesses move large amounts of information quickly and reliably between offices, data centers and cloud providers, using the same technology that links devices on a local network but scaled for wide-area use. Investors care because these services are often sold as recurring subscriptions, require heavy upfront network investment, and reflect demand for bandwidth — factors that influence revenue stability, margins and capital spending in telecom and IT-related companies.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Streamlines Federal and SLED Agencies' Procurement of Lightpath's Fiber Infrastructure and Connectivity Services

NEW YORK, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lightpath, an all-fiber, infrastructure-based connectivity provider that is revolutionizing how organizations connect to their digital destinations, has been awarded a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract. This contract makes it easy for federal agencies to procure Lightpath's AI-grade fiber infrastructure and connectivity services quickly and easily.

The streamlined, pre-approved procurement vehicle makes Lightpath solutions available through GSA eBuy. Additionally, state and local agencies in all 50 states can now access Lightpath services through Cooperative Purchasing. With the contract in place, Federal and State, Local, and Education (SLED) agencies can enjoy predictable procurement through standardized GSA terms and pricing. Lightpath's network delivers operational reliability for essential services that require continuous uptime and secure, diverse pathways that support mission workloads and sensitive information. Additionally, Lightpath offers scalable capacity to support long-term modernization initiatives and accelerate connectivity upgrade timelines across government facilities, campuses, and regional operations.

While the MAS designation is new, Lightpath has a long history partnering with more than 1,000 customers in education systems, municipalities, transportation agencies, and other public-sector environments that require dependable, high-performance connectivity. Lightpath has established itself as a premier partner for these organizations thanks to its all-fiber network spanning more than 12,100 route miles, connecting over 185+ data centers and more than 17,500 lit locations across major metro regions, including the NYC Metropolitan Area, Long Island, New Jersey, Southern Connecticut, Boston, Eastern Pennsylvania, Ashburn, Miami, Columbus and Phoenix. 

The network is engineered for high-capacity, low-latency performance. It incorporates diverse, resilient routes to minimize single points of failure. It is built to scale with agencies' cloud adoption, location expansion, or bandwidth needs, it offers up to 800 Gbps of bandwidth, ensuring agencies feel confident in meeting future demands.

"This is an important milestone for Lightpath and meaningfully expands our ability to support the mission critical requirements of government entities," said Doug Turtz, CRO of Lightpath. "The contract underscores our commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality infrastructure and serving as a long-term partner to public-sector organizations as they modernize critical operations."

"A streamlined and compliant procurement path is critical for federal, state, and local agencies," said Anthony Rasco, Director Education and Government Sales at Lightpath. "The GSA MAS makes it easier for agencies to access our services, and positions Lightpath to support modernization initiatives with a robust, scalable network footprint."

Services available under the contract will be listed within the GSA catalog. Agencies may reference Contract Number 47QTCA26D0021 when procuring Lightpath services through MAS.

For more information about Lightpath, visit lightpathfiber.com, and follow Lightpath on LinkedIn.

About Lightpath

Lightpath owns, builds, and operates an AI-grade, all-fiber network across major U.S. metro markets, delivering high-capacity, low-latency connectivity for cloud, hyperscale, data center, and mission-critical enterprise workloads. Purpose-built for scale and resilience, Lightpath supports dark fiber, wavelength, and Ethernet services with direct operational accountability from the teams that design and run the network. For more than 30 years, enterprises, public-sector organizations, and cloud providers have trusted Lightpath to support essential systems and large-scale digital infrastructure. Lightpath is jointly owned by Optimum Communications, Inc. (NYSE: OPTU) and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.

To learn how Lightpath can connect you to your digital destinations, visit lightpathfiber.com.

For media inquiries:
JSA for Lightpath
1-866-695-3629 ext. 4
jsa_lightpath@jsa.net

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightpath-awarded-gsa-multiple-award-schedule-contract-302708633.html

SOURCE Lightpath

FAQ

What does Lightpath’s GSA MAS award mean for federal and SLED procurement of OPTU services?

It creates a streamlined, pre-approved procurement path for federal and SLED agencies. According to the company, the MAS makes Lightpath services available via GSA eBuy and Cooperative Purchasing, using standardized GSA terms and pricing to simplify acquisitions across all 50 states.

Which Lightpath services are available under Contract Number 47QTCA26D0021 for OPTU investors?

Services under the MAS are listed in the GSA catalog for easy ordering. According to the company, offerings include AI-grade fiber infrastructure, wavelength, Ethernet, and dark fiber solutions available through the specified contract number.

How extensive is Lightpath’s network capacity cited in the OPTU press release?

Lightpath describes an all-fiber network built for high-capacity, low-latency performance. According to the company, the network spans 12,100+ route miles, links 185+ data centers and 17,500 lit locations, and supports up to 800 Gbps for scaling agency needs.

How will the GSA MAS award affect Lightpath’s ability to serve government modernization projects (OPTU)?

The MAS award aims to accelerate government procurement and modernization timelines. According to the company, predictable GSA terms plus a scalable, resilient network will help agencies modernize operations across facilities, campuses, and regional deployments.

Where can agencies reference Lightpath’s GSA MAS contract when procuring OPTU services?

Agencies can reference the contract number when ordering through GSA channels. According to the company, agencies should use Contract Number 47QTCA26D0021 and access services via GSA eBuy or Cooperative Purchasing listings.