The Dark Fiber network continued its steady growth this week with new activity coming almost daily.

For example, OnLight Aurora, a fiber optic network ISP and provider of dark fiber and lite wave connectivity within Aurora, IL, recently announced that it has stretched its high-availability fiber network to BYTEGRID's new data center in Aurora. OnLight’s high-availability fiber network includes multi-homed Metro Ethernet service and low latency wave interconnection to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

"BYTEGRID is rapidly emerging as a leading provider of compliant-grade critical data center solutions with a rapidly growing national footprint," said Peter Lynch, President of OnLight Aurora. "OnLight is establishing its presence in CH1 based on BYTEGRID's highly interconnected fabric of dynamic capacity, connectivity, and ecosystem community encompassing large enterprises, service providers and government organizations."

In other news, manufacturer of service assurances for the telecoms industry, EXFO Inc., has announced an order from a global tier-1 mobile network operator to the tune of $2 million to monitor and assess its mobile backhaul network infrastructure. EXFO (News - Alert) will assess everything from turn-up to real-time monitoring and advanced troubleshooting. The company says that its Ethernet One solution, including BrixNGN service assurance software, BV-3100 Verifiers, and FTB-1 field-portable platforms, won the order due to its “enhanced service performance delivery, increased operational efficiency, and accelerated time-to-revenue requirements of the global mobile network operator.”

In the West, Longmont, Colo., is going to offer what it calls a Gigabit city, after initial funds were approved by residents for a fiber optic broadband network. Longmont is one of the largest U.S. cities to opt for a municipal fiber deployment. The fiber network is being constructed in six phases, and the first phase will see construction start in August.

“We are and will be positioned to be a leader in digital communications and a global information hub,” Longmont Power & Communications said in a recent statement. LPC, a municipal electric and broadband utility, will operate the network and provide voice and data at speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) to residences and businesses.

As news in always breaking in this vibrant community, be sure to check back often.