Network carrier Zayo Group has acquired FiberLink, a Midwest-based dark-fiber operator, gaining what the company characterized as “a highly unique route between Chicago and Denver.”

FiberLink’s primary route brings to Zayo more than 1,200 route miles of network. The route extends from downtown Chicago, through Des Moines and Omaha, to downtown Denver.

With this acquisition, Zayo now operates about 26,000 routes miles of dark fiber. The company did not disclose terms of the deal.

Matt Erickson, president of Zayo’s fiber, transport and infrastructure division, said, “Des Moines is a growing data center market that will now have greater access to Zayo’s network footprint.”

Zayo expects a quick integration process and plans to provide services on this route immediately.

This was a second acquisition announcement for Zayo this month. On 2 October, the company announced acquisition of Access Communications, a Minneapolis-St. Paul services provider, for US$41m.

Access brings to Zayo a 1,200-mile metropolitan fiber network covering the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The company focused on providing dark fiber services to a concentrated set of carrier, enterprise and governmental customers in the area.