Firstlight

Firstlight provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast connecting nearly 8,000 locations in service with an additional 25,000 locations serviceable by its more than 14,000 route mile fiber network.

Firstlight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services.

Our clientele includes national cellular providers and CLECs and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, law firms, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments. Firstlight is a portfolio company of Oak Hill Capital Partners.

We have been building and operating our own fiber optic network for nearly 20 years. With the acquisition of Lebanon, NH-based segTEL in 2011, the assets of VT-based TelJet in 2013 and G4 Communications in 2014, and Oxford Networks, Sovernet Communications, Finger Lakes Technologies Group, and 186 Communications in 2017, the Firstlight network connects carrier and enterprise customers in the Northeast.

Firstlight combines its technology with a staff experienced in high demand operations. Our network operations and customer service center is strategically located in downtown Albany, NY and Firstlight technicians are on call 24×7×365. The senior management team alone has over a century of direct and related experience in the design, construction, development and operation of large-scale telecommunications infrastructure and services. Firstlight maintains a full time staff of qualified project managers, engineers, technicians, and support personnel that continuously monitor, maintain and augment the network.

Firstlight is a telecommunications carrier and public utility duly authorized under the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and by the state utilities commissions of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to provide intrastate and interstate telecommunications, and to build and manage its extensive fiber-optic network throughout the Northeast.

For nearly 20 years, Firstlight has been designing, building and maintaining fiber-based communications networks throughout the Northeast. We provide the high quality, scalable data, Internet, colocation and voice connections our enterprise and carrier customers need to thrive in this digital age.

1999

Tech Valley Communications (TVC) is founded to provide high quality, fiber-based communications services to customers throughout the Capital Region.

2000

TVC acquired GFC Communications. This transaction enhanced our suite of voice services and added a number of colleges and universities to our customer roster.

2002

TVC merges with Mid-Hudson Communications. This transaction provided additional fiber network throughout New York’s Capital region and the transaction enhanced our switching infrastructure.

2010

Riverside Partners acquired TVC, which provided TVC the necessary resources and support required to propel the organization’s growth.

2011

Tech Valley Communications acquired segTEL. This transaction added a fiber network in New Hampshire, Maine and into Vermont as well as a wholesale customer base.

2013

TVC acquired Vermont-based TelJet’s assets. This transaction added a dense fiber footprint throughout Vermont, a colocation facility in Burlington, VT, connectivity to New York City, Boston and an international presence in Montreal. The company becomes Firstlight Fiber.

2014

Firstlight acquired New Hampshire-based G4 Communications’ assets. This transaction added an impressive roster of customers and a colocation facility in Manchester, NH.

2016

Firstlight expands its fiber network into New York, adding more than 35,000 fiber miles in Westchester, Orange and Rockland counties. Also in 2016, Firstlight was acquired by Oak Hill Capital Partners. This acquisition will further accelerate Company’s growth. Oak Hill subsequently announces its intention to acquire Oxford Networks and Sovernet Communications. Upon the closing of both these transactions, they will be combined with Firstlight.

2017

Firstlight successfully combined operations with Oxford Networks and Sovernet Communications, and Oxford, Sovernet and ION Communications are now consolidated under the Firstlight brand. Firstlight also acquired Finger Lakes Technologies Group (“FLTG”), a subsidiary of Trumansburg Telephone Company (TTC) operating in New York and Pennsylvania; and 186 Communications, a high-capacity fiber network provider operating in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. The Firstlight network grew considerably, expanding to connecting nearly 8,0000 locations in service with more than 25,000 locations serviceable by its 14,000 route mile network.

SO, WHY CHOOSE Firstlight? Locally-Based Service and Support
Firstlight offers locally-based support teams in all of the markets we serve. Our Headquarter location is in Albany, NY and we operate Network Operations Centers (NOC) in Albany and Victor, New York, Brunswick, Maine and Portsmouth, NH. In addition, we have offices in Phelps, Trumansburg, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Romulus NY, Portsmouth and Manchester, NH, Lewiston, ME and Williston, VT. The Firstlight team is dedicated to providing superior services, backed with the understanding that our clients’ mission critical communication needs demand comprehensive, proactive support.

We continue to invest in the local community expanding access to high-quality broadband throughout the region.

Fiber-Based Network
Exclusively owned and operated by Firstlight, the Firstlight regional networkspans approximately 14,000 route miles, nearly 8,000 lit locations, with access to more than 25,000 locations, in six states with connectivity to Montreal. Our network is designed as an ultra-high availability system and is architected to provide scalable services from 5 Mbps to 100 Gbps.

Complete Set of Services for Businesses
We offer businesses a full suite of advanced fiber optic communications services including Data, Internet, Voice, Virtual PBX, and Data Center.

We are proud to serve customers representing a wide range of industries:

- Carriers
- Wireless Providers
- MSOs
- Banking and Finance
- Healthcare
- K-12 and College/University Education
- Research and Education Organizations
- Public Safety Agencies
- State & Local Government
- Professional Services

Fully Customizable Solutions

Firstlight offers a wide variety of connectivity options that can be customized to meet unique client requirements in order to address the increasing demand for high-end applications and services.

Solid Financial Backing

Firstlight has strong financials and is privately-owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners. Oak Hill provides the guidance and financial backing necessary for Firstlight’s continued growth. Given its solid financial backing, Firstlight is well positioned to take on and successfully complete projects of all sizes.

Firstlight is proud to announce we've been named to the 2021 @TopWorkplaces list. We're thrilled to have been included and thankful to our employees, who made this happen!

Firstlight offers varied challenging and rewarding career opportunities. If you think you have the skills and experience necessary to make a meaningful contribution to Firstlight, we’d love to hear from you.

Firstlight offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

- Training Opportunities
- 401K
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Tuition Assistance
- Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay

Firstlight Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with state and federal laws, Firstlight’s equal opportunity policy is that all applicants and employees are treated equally by the company with respect to employment opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or veteran disability.