Lightpath Deepens Columbus AI Infrastructure with Third Major Network Award

Rhea-AI Summary

Lightpath (NYSE:OPTU) secured a third major network award in the Greater Columbus market, adding 55 route miles of 100% underground, multi-conduit fiber and bringing its Columbus build under construction to 304 total route miles. Approximately 102 route miles (about one-third of the announced build) are scheduled for completion in H1 2026, ahead of the original timeline, with the remaining mileage expected online in H1 2027. The expansion targets hyperscale AI and data center workloads and aims to strengthen regional connectivity across Central and Southwest Ohio.

Positive

• Total Columbus build reaches 304 route miles
• 55 route miles of new 100% underground, multi-conduit network added
• 102 route miles scheduled for completion in H1 2026, ahead of plan

Negative

• Remaining build completion extends to H1 2027, delaying full network availability

Key Figures

Columbus build length: 304 route miles New route miles: 55 route miles Early completion segment: 102 route miles +5 more

8 metrics

Columbus build length 304 route miles Total Lightpath network under construction in Greater Columbus Region

New route miles 55 route miles Additional 100% underground, multi-conduit network toward Cincinnati

Early completion segment 102 route miles Portion scheduled for completion in first half of 2026

Completion timeline First half 2026 / 2027 Remaining Columbus mileage expected online by first half of 2027

2025 AI TCV $252M AI-enabling Total Contract Value in 2025

TCV growth 240% increase vs $110M Increase in AI-enabling TCV from 2024 to 2025

Sales pipeline $6.4B AI-related sales pipeline across 10 US data-center markets

Customer footprint 4.4 million customers, 21 states Optimum customer base mentioned in Dec 16, 2025 release

Market Reality Check

Price: $1.80 Vol: Volume at 956,475 versus ...

low vol

$1.80 Last Close

Volume Volume at 956,475 versus 20-day average 2,578,405 (relative volume 0.37) suggests lighter trading ahead of this AI infrastructure update. low

Technical Shares at $1.89 are trading above the 200-day MA of $1.80, with price still 11.48% below the 52-week high of $2.1352 and above the 52-week low of $1.59.

Historical Context

3 past events · Latest: Jan 15 (Positive)

Pattern 3 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 15	AI contract growth	Positive	+1.1%	Reported strong growth in AI-related contract value and sales pipeline.
Dec 16	Content fee dispute	Negative	-3.3%	Rejected what it called egregious fee demands from TEGNA for network content.
Dec 05	Conference appearance	Neutral	-3.2%	Announced CEO presentation at UBS Global Media and Communications Conference.

Pattern Detected

Recent AI-focused news saw a modest positive reaction, while broader corporate or event updates coincided with share price declines, indicating stronger alignment between AI growth narratives and market response.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, OPTU has highlighted both AI growth and broader corporate developments. On Jan 15, 2026, Lightpath reported $252M in 2025 AI-enabling TCV and a $6.4B sales pipeline, and the stock rose 1.06%. In contrast, a dispute with TEGNA on Dec 16, 2025 and a UBS conference appearance on Dec 9, 2025 were followed by declines of 3.33% and 3.16%, respectively.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details a significant AI-focused network expansion, adding 55 route miles and brin...

Analysis

This announcement details a significant AI-focused network expansion, adding 55 route miles and bringing Lightpath’s Columbus build to 304 route miles, with 102 miles slated for completion by the first half of 2026. It extends earlier AI contract and pipeline growth into tangible infrastructure. Investors may watch how quickly this capacity is utilized, progress toward the 2027 build-out, and future AI-related contract disclosures.

Key Terms

hyperscale, multi-conduit, data center, intercity

4 terms

hyperscale technical

"driven by hyperscale demand for AI-ready connectivity infrastructure"

Hyperscale describes the ability of a system or operation to grow rapidly and handle extremely large amounts of work or data. It’s like a massive factory that can quickly expand its production capacity to meet soaring demand. For investors, hyperscale indicates a business’s potential to scale efficiently, often leading to increased growth and profitability.

multi-conduit technical

"adding 55 route miles of 100% underground, multi-conduit network"

A configuration that uses more than one channel or pathway to move goods, money, data, or fluids, such as multiple distribution routes, financing vehicles, or medical tubes working together. For investors, multi-conduit setups can reduce single-point failures and spread revenue sources—like a house with several water pipes so one leak doesn’t cut off supply—but they also add cost, operational complexity and potential regulatory oversight that can affect returns.

data center technical

"high-capacity fiber networks to support production-grade AI and data center workloads"

A data center is a secure facility that houses large numbers of computers, storage devices and networking gear that run, store and move digital information for businesses and online services. Investors treat data centers like modern warehouses: their occupancy, energy efficiency, connectivity and long-term service contracts drive steady revenue and capital needs, so changes in demand or costs can directly affect profitability and growth prospects.

intercity technical

"fiber corridor designed to support both metro and intercity data center interconnectivity"

Intercity describes services, routes, or connections that run between separate cities rather than within a single city, such as long-distance trains, buses, or highways linking urban centers. For investors, intercity activity matters because it drives passenger and freight volumes, pricing power, and regional economic flows—like a bridge between markets, changes in intercity travel or transport capacity can directly affect revenue, costs, and growth prospects for companies in travel, logistics, and infrastructure.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Award Brings Columbus Network to 304 Miles

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lightpath today announced it has secured a third major network award in the Greater Columbus market, reflecting continued, success-based investment driven by hyperscale demand for AI-ready connectivity infrastructure. The latest award builds directly on a network currently under construction, adding 55 route miles of 100% underground, multi-conduit network extending southwest of Columbus toward Cincinnati. This third award brings Lightpath's network under construction in the Greater Columbus Region to 304 total route miles. 

The cumulative scale of investment reinforces Columbus's role as a leading deployment market for customers who require high-capacity fiber networks to support production-grade AI and data center workloads. Columbus is one of several markets in the US where large-scale compute platform customers are expanding across multiple regions simultaneously and prioritizing network scale, predictable performance, and long-term resiliency.

Construction across the Columbus market is proceeding in phases. Approximately 102 route miles — about one-third of the total announced build — are scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026, ahead of the original delivery timeline. The remaining mileage is expected to come online in the first half of 2027.

"Securing a third award in Columbus underscores the consistency of demand we're seeing from hyperscale customers as they expand AI infrastructure at scale," said Chris Morley, CEO of Lightpath. "Our focus remains on executing reliably and building infrastructure that supports long-term, mission-critical workloads."

The additional construction further strengthens regional connectivity across Central and Southwest Ohio, reinforcing a growing fiber corridor designed to support both metro and intercity data center interconnectivity.

"Delivering a significant portion of this build ahead of schedule reflects the operational discipline behind our infrastructure strategy," said Tim Haverkate, EVP of Major Infrastructure at Lightpath. "This phased expansion positions us to support continued growth in Columbus while maintaining the performance and reliability our customers expect."

The Columbus expansion is part of Lightpath's broader approach to building dense, all-fiber infrastructure across key U.S. markets, supporting hyperscale, carrier, and enterprise customers with scalable, production-ready connectivity.

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

About Lightpath

Lightpath is revolutionizing how customers connect to their digital destinations by combining our next-generation network with our next-generation customer service. Lightpath's advanced fiber-optic network offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-engineered connectivity solutions with unparalleled performance, reliability, and security. Our consultative customer service means we work with you to design, deliver, and support the solution for your unique needs, faster and more easily than ever before. For over 30 years, thousands of enterprises, governments, and educators have trusted Lightpath to power their organization's innovation. 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

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SOURCE Lightpath

FAQ

How many total route miles will Lightpath (OPTU) have under construction in Columbus after the award?

Lightpath's Columbus build under construction totals 304 route miles after the latest award.

What portion of Lightpath's Columbus expansion is expected online in H1 2026 for OPTU?

About 102 route miles, roughly one-third of the announced build, are scheduled for completion in H1 2026.

What are the technical characteristics of the new Lightpath (OPTU) route miles added near Columbus?

The award adds 55 route miles of 100% underground, multi-conduit fiber extending southwest toward Cincinnati.

When will the remainder of Lightpath's Columbus network be completed for OPTU?

The remaining mileage is expected to come online in H1 2027.

What market demand is Lightpath (OPTU) citing for the Columbus expansion?

Lightpath cites continued hyperscale demand for AI-ready, high-capacity fiber networks to support production-grade AI and data center workloads.