DC BLOX Acquires Network Assets from Light Source Communications and Ascendant Capital Fiber

DC BLOX, a leading provider of secure and reliable data centers across the Southeast, announces it has acquired the Southeastern fiber assets from Light Source Communications and Ascendant Capital Fiber, including a unique dark fiber network connecting South Carolina to Georgia that is currently in development.

Following DC BLOX’s recent announcement that it is building a new Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this acquisition positions DC BLOX as a premier vertically integrated digital infrastructure, data center and connectivity provider in the Southeastern United States. Construction is already underway on the high-capacity, long-haul dark fiber route that will run from the Myrtle Beach CLS through Charleston, Augusta, and downtown Atlanta’s major connectivity centers, landing in Lithia Springs, GA. The CLS and the terrestrial dark fiber route are both planned to be completed in 2023.

As part of the dark fiber transaction, Light Source’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Debra Freitas, and co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer Pete Empie, will join DC BLOX and will be responsible for continuing to drive the development of new fiber network infrastructure to support the company’s customers and facilities. In addition, DC BLOX has added Mark Fortier, who most recently served as Vice President, Technology Infrastructure Sales at FiberLight, to develop carrier and hyper-scaler relationships for connectivity and data center solutions. Post Road Group, Bain Capital, and Ascendant Capital Partners, Light Source’s principal investor, are providing DC BLOX with the financial support to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure across the Southeast. 

“Pete and I are thrilled to join forces with DC BLOX, a company we have long admired that has been leading digital infrastructure enablement throughout the Southeast,” stated Debra Freitas, CEO of Light Source. “This new fiber route will serve hyperscale customers and communications providers who need high-capacity, economical access to Atlanta from cities and counties to the East all the way to the coast. It will also benefit underserved rural areas across South Carolina and Georgia that are working to build out regional broadband networks for their communities.”

The nearly 500-mile route from Myrtle Beach to Atlanta will carry high-capacity dark fiber as well as a duct bank for future cables and can also serve as a diverse geographic route from Ashburn, Virginia, to the Southeastern region. This project represents another significant investment in digital infrastructure by DC BLOX in South Carolina, following the opening of its Greenville data center in January 2022 and the announcement of the Myrtle Beach CLS.

“The acquisition of these fiber assets and the capabilities of our new team members will provide DC BLOX a more comprehensive ability to meet the data center and communications infrastructure requirements of a broader set of customers across the Southeast region,” said Jeff Uphues, CEO of DC BLOX. “We look forward to the contributions and leadership of Debra, Pete and Mark to significantly expand our digital infrastructure services capabilities. Moreover, we are grateful for the support we have received from our existing investors, Post Road Group and Bain Capital, and welcome Ascendant Capital Partners, who share our vision and are instrumental to the successful execution of our ambitious growth plans.”