Telecommunications Acquisitions in Kansas

Industrial Networking Solutions (INS), a CIVC Partners–backed provider of critical wired and wireless networking solutions, has acquired Source Inc., a specialist in wireless networking, IoT and POTS replacement. The acquisition expands INS's wireless, 5G and managed IoT capabilities and leverages Source Inc.'s Network Operations Center and regional U.S. presence to improve fulfillment and service delivery.

Lightpath has acquired WANRack’s network assets and customers in Phoenix, Arizona, adding 133 miles of fiber and bringing Lightpath’s Phoenix footprint to 363 miles. The deal expands Lightpath’s presence in the Phoenix market as it builds a 230-mile network; WANRack is majority‑owned by CBRE Investment Management and is headquartered in the Kansas City metro area.

Circet USA, the U.S. arm of global network infrastructure provider Circet, has acquired CACI Communications, a Kansas City–area aerial and underground telecom construction contractor. The acquisition expands Circet USA’s capacity and capabilities in fiber optic aerial/underground construction and fiber splicing to better serve national telecom and internet service providers.

GridSource, a Fund V portfolio company of Hastings Equity Partners, has acquired WiseConnect, an Overland Park, Kansas-based provider of end-to-end telecom network installation and managed services. The add-on expands GridSource's service offering and geographic footprint, marking the first add-on since Hastings acquired GridSource in December 2022.

WANRack, a national fiber infrastructure provider backed by CBRE Investment Management, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire JMZ Corporation d/b/a KwiKom Communications. KwiKom — a Kansas-based operator of fiber optic and fixed wireless broadband serving parts of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska — will continue operating under its brand; the deal is expected to close in Q1 2023 subject to customary approvals.

Northleaf Capital Partners has acquired a controlling interest in Mercury Broadband and will invest up to $230 million to accelerate Mercury's deployment of high-speed fiber and fixed wireless broadband across underserved rural markets in the U.S. Midwest. The capital will support construction of more than 12,000 miles of outside plant and hundreds of fixed wireless access sites across select markets in Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois.

T‑Mobile US (controlled by Deutsche Telekom) completed its acquisition of Sprint, previously controlled by SoftBank Group, consolidating the U.S. wireless market from four national carriers to three. Plaintiffs filed a federal class action alleging the merger reduced competition and caused billions in higher wireless prices for consumers and businesses.

Clearwave Fiber has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of RG FIBER, a high-capacity fiber network service provider near Kansas City, Kansas. The deal marks Clearwave's entry into Kansas and gives the company a foothold to expand fiber services into nearby underserved communities.

CBRE Caledon Capital Management Inc. has completed the previously announced acquisition of WANRack LLC, a fiber operator and developer that provides broadband connectivity (primarily to K-12 school districts) across the United States. The seller was Grain Management, which had been the controlling investor; WANRack's founder and CEO Rob Oyler and management retain an equity stake and will continue to lead the company.