Network news roundup
August underscored the push-and-pull between rapid digital infrastructure growth and the constraints of existing systems. M&A momentum remained strong with regional and national fiber consolidation, while operators like Lumen and T-Mobile expanded their reach into data centers and broadband markets. At the same time, the U.S. grid is feeling the pressure of skyrocketing demand from AI-driven data centers, and advocacy groups are urging regulators to scrutinize big wireless spectrum reshuffling. Across the Atlantic, Openreach is piloting new ways to turn fiber into a multi-purpose sensor grid.
Infrastructure & innovation
Data center boom straining U.S. electric grid
A new report warns that PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. regional transmission operator, lacks the spare capacity to handle surging demand from hyperscale data centers. Monitoring Analytics, the grid’s independent market monitor, says new facilities should be required to bring their own generation to avoid passing steep costs to other customers. Demand from AI and cloud workloads is accelerating reliability and affordability challenges across PJM’s 13-state footprint.
Read more
Lumen enables key metro markets with high-speed data center connectivity
Lumen is expanding its fiber backbone into more than 70 third-party, cloud-ready data centers across 16 U.S. metros, offering Ethernet and IP services up to 400 Gbps. The move supports enterprises scaling AI and multi-cloud workloads, with a network footprint designed to deliver sub-5 millisecond latency to 97% of U.S. demand. Lumen plans to expand to 47 million intercity fiber miles by 2028, up from 17 million planned by end of 2025.
Read more
Openreach to use fibre sensing to detect nearby water leaks
The UK’s Openreach has launched two trials with water utilities and tech partners to repurpose its fiber network as a real-time leak detection grid. Using distributed acoustic sensing technology, the pilots in London aim to identify anomalies in water and gas pipes before they become emergencies. If successful, the model could scale citywide, helping reduce the UK’s £750m in annual unplanned repair costs.
Read more
M&A & market expansion
Bluebird Fiber to acquire Everstream assets
Bluebird Fiber has announced plans to acquire the majority of Everstream’s operations, combining two enterprise-focused providers into one of the largest regional fiber businesses in the Midwest. The deal, expected to close by year-end, will expand Bluebird’s footprint from Kansas to Ohio, bringing together highly complementary networks and teams.
Read more
T-Mobile makes another fiber growth play with U.S. Internet deal
T-Mobile is acquiring Minnesota-based ISP U.S. Internet, adding more than 190,000 fiber locations to its portfolio. The move follows T-Mobile’s acquisitions of Lumos and Metronet, and comes alongside open access partnerships across multiple states. Analysts note, however, that the deal’s footprint largely overlaps with existing providers and won’t significantly close the gap with AT&T and Verizon’s larger fiber holdings.
Read more
Security & policy
Broadband groups urge FCC to consolidate UScellular deal reviews
Four advocacy groups are pressing the FCC to conduct a single review of UScellular’s spectrum and operations sales to T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. The coalition argues the transactions are interdependent and must be evaluated together to fully assess competition, rural service, labor, and consumer impact. The T-Mobile transaction has already closed, while AT&T and Verizon’s $1B spectrum purchases remain under review.
Read more
Numbers worth noting
- 47 million — Lumen’s intercity fiber-mile goal by 2028
- 400 Gbps — Capacity of Lumen’s new enterprise data center links
- $4.1–$4.3 billion — Lumen’s 2025 capex guidance
- 192,000+ — Fiber locations gained by T-Mobile through U.S. Internet
- 13 — States covered by PJM Interconnection grid
- 5 ms — Latency target across Lumen’s U.S. network
- £750m — Annual UK costs from unplanned water and gas pipe repairs
- 3 billion liters — Estimated daily water lost to leaks in the UK
For more industry insights, follow us on LinkedIn.
