A major underground network development in Columbus, Ohio, is set to strengthen the region’s digital infrastructure as demand for AI-ready connectivity continues to accelerate. Lightpath, a provider of all-fibre connectivity services, has confirmed it will construct 102 route miles of high-fibre count, multi-conduit infrastructure in the city, anchored by an unnamed hyperscaler.
The network, scheduled for completion in mid-2026, will connect two data centre campuses south of downtown Columbus with the city’s metro corridor. It will support high-capacity services including dark fibre, wavelength services up to 800 Gbps, Ethernet and internet access, all designed to serve hyperscale data centres as well as enterprise, education, government, carrier and wireless customers.
The expansion signals a growing recognition of Columbus as a key digital and data hub in the United States. The city currently ranks as the third-largest data centre ecosystem in the Americas, with 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of operational capacity and a further 3GW in the pipeline.
Infrastructure built for scale and speed
The new Columbus network marks Lightpath’s second regional investment in AI-specific infrastructure announced this year, following its February entry into the Phoenix market. Both projects are being built to support the increasing demands of artificial intelligence applications, which require large-scale, low-latency fibre networks to function effectively.
Tim Haverkate, Executive Vice President of Major Infrastructure Solutions at Lightpath, said the company is focusing its strategy on high-growth digital regions where hyperscale demand is reshaping infrastructure requirements. “The Columbus data centre ecosystem is expanding rapidly and Lightpath is aggressively pursuing these AI-driven opportunities to support our hyperscale and other strategic partners,” said Haverkate.
He added that Lightpath’s ability to combine commercial flexibility with operational and construction capability positions it well to deliver the scale and speed now required. “AI is not just another application. It is fundamentally changing how infrastructure needs to be designed, delivered and consumed.”
From speculative investment to structural necessity
Columbus’s emergence as a digital infrastructure hub is emblematic of a broader shift in how cities prepare for the data economy. The traditional model of reacting to customer requirements is being replaced by anticipatory builds, driven by forecasts of AI workloads and cloud infrastructure demand.
Chris Morley, Chief Executive Officer of Lightpath, believes the time to act is now. “Columbus is currently the third largest data centre ecosystem in the Americas,” he said. “We are bringing the future of digital infrastructure to greater Columbus to support our hyperscale and strategic customers.”
The company has already seen strong AI-driven momentum, announcing $110 million in AI-related bookings during 2024, with a pipeline of opportunities approaching $1 billion. Earlier this year, it also acquired United Fiber and Data, further strengthening its portfolio of infrastructure assets across the US.
While AI has dominated headlines with breakthroughs in generative models and automation, the physical layer underpinning this transformation remains an essential and often overlooked foundation. Without the ability to move and process massive volumes of data at high speed and low latency, even the most powerful AI applications are limited in scope and reach.
The expansion in Columbus is not only about meeting current demand but anticipating what comes next. As AI and cloud computing become increasingly central to economic and social development, cities that invest early in robust infrastructure may be best placed to attract long-term technology investment, jobs and innovation.
