Lightyear's Assets Set to be Acquired by Birch Communications

An asset purchase agreement has been signed by Birch Communications in order to purchase key customer and network assets from Lightyear Network Solutions, Inc.

Lightyear is a provider of data, voice and Wi-Fi telecommunication services to small- and medium-sized businesses, and it is expected that the company will close this during Q3 this year as its 18th acquisition since 2006. Local PRI and digital T1, enhanced Internet services, MPLS, Ethernet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), local and long distance service, and conferencing are among its product offerings. The company developed its own VoIP network in 2004 to improve its product offerings and has partnered with some of the most prominent names in telecom including: Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, Level 3, Windstream, CenturyLink, tw telecom, XO Communications and Cisco.

The president and CEO at Birch Communications, Vincent M. Oddo, said: "This acquisition strengthens the breadth and scope of the Birch IP-Network. Lightyear's Metaswitch-based facilities network, Hosted-PBX offering, and switching center in Lexington, Kentucy, complement our current business operations. In addition, several new markets within Kentucky will be added to our network footprint which will expand our overall Birch IP-Network to 11 states. Following this acquisition, Birch will be providing service to customers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia."

The proposed transaction is subject to Lightyear shareholder approval, customary regulatory approvals, and other closing conditions. (CY) Link. Link