Viatel CEO Colm Piercy
Global bandwidth provider Zayo Group has acquired Colm Piercy’s pan-European telecoms firm Viatel for €95m ($102m) in an all-cash deal.
The Viatel acquisition will provide Zayo with pan-European intercity and metro fibre capability via an 8,400km fibre network across eight countries.
The transaction will add 12 new metro networks, seven data centres and connectivity to 81 on-net buildings.
Two wholly-owned subsea cable systems will provide connectivity on two of Europe’s busiest routes – London-Amsterdam and London-Paris.
It’s all about the fibre
The Viatel businesses to be acquired are highly aligned with Zayo’s existing product and customer set, including a higher proportion of dark fibre revenue, said Zayo CEO Dan Caruso.
“Viatel’s long-haul fibre network and colo assets combined with Zayo’s existing national UK, France and US networks provides truly international, seamless connectivity for Zayo’s existing and new customers,” said Dan Caruso, chairman and CEO of Zayo.
“Our pan-European infrastructure capability addresses new growth opportunities, including connectivity to key subsea cable systems delivering traffic to and from high-growth regions such as Asia and Africa.”
Viatel, which also owns and operates the Digiweb consumer broadband brand in Ireland, has more than 150 points of presence (POPs) across western Europe, with direct reach into cities such as London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich.
Last August, Viatel embarked on a major €125m expansion plan, including jobs and infrastructure investment across western Europe.
“The combination of Zayo and Viatel will provide far greater network reach and growth potential for Viatel’s customers,” said Colm Piercy, CEO of Viatel.
“We will continue to offer leading voice, data and hosting solutions in Ireland.”
