Sidera Networks, the provider of network and colocation services formerly known as RCN Metro, has acquired the Philadelphia-based colocation provider Cross Connect Solutions. As part of the deal, Cross Connect's 28,000-sq-ft data center will change hands and expand Sidera's inventory of colocation space whose current size is about 100,000 sq ft housed in 26 facilities.

Sidera president and chief operating officer Felipe Alvarez said in a statement that the data center his company gained through the acquisition is a key telecom facility serving Philadelphia and is also in the heart of Sidera's footprint. "As such it is a natural extension of our capabilities, and we look forward to serving our customers from that location," he said in a statement.

RCN was renamed into Sidera following its acquisition by the private investment fund Abry Partners in August at $15 per share in cash. Abry has been an active investor in the data center space, but has recently sold off a lot of the inventory it used to own.

In June, Abry sold a large Texas colocation company CyrusOne to Cincinnati Bell, shedding 174,000 sq ft of data center space in three Texas markets in exchange for about $525m. More recently, the investment firm sold hosting company Hosted Solutions to the telecom Windstream for $310m. That deal was announced in early November.