Telecommunications Acquisitions in Massachusetts

IonQ has completed the acquisition of Boston-based Lightsynq, a startup developing photonic interconnects and quantum memory. The deal adds Lightsynq's IP and engineering capabilities to accelerate IonQ's fault-tolerant quantum computing roadmap and progress toward quantum networking and the quantum internet.

Patton, LLC has acquired Artel Video Systems, a U.S. manufacturer of real-time multimedia delivery and IP-over-fiber video transport solutions. The purchase expands Patton's fiber- and IP-based audio/video transport portfolio, adds Artel's R&D, manufacturing and IP capabilities, and strengthens Patton's offerings to telecom, broadcast and defense customers.

An affiliate of AccessPlus, part of the RingSquared organization, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Crocker Communications, Inc., a regional telecommunications provider based in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The deal—subject to FCC and state approvals and expected to close in Q3 2024—will integrate Crocker’s ~2,000 customers into AccessPlus’s fiber network while Crocker retains its brand and Matthew Crocker remains President.

Lumine Group Inc. completed the acquisition of the Axyom Cloud Native 5G Core software and RAN assets from Casa Systems. The assets will operate as an independent business unit under the brand Axyom.Core and expand Lumine's communications and media software portfolio in a corporate carve-out divestiture.

Berkshire Partners has made a majority growth investment in TowerNorth, a developer, owner and operator of wireless infrastructure assets across the United States and Europe. Founding investor Wincove Private Holdings re-invested in the transaction; financial terms were not disclosed.

GiGstreem, a national provider of residential and commercial broadband and managed Wi‑Fi, has acquired Boston‑based netBlazr to accelerate its network footprint and local operations in the greater Boston area. The deal brings netBlazr's ~3,500 subscribers and local team into GiGstreem, bolstering local customer support, engineering capabilities and service coverage for multifamily and commercial customers.

Pfingsten-backed New England Electrical Contracting, LLC has acquired Atlas Innovative Services, Inc., a provider of maintenance, repair and upgrade services for critical telecommunications infrastructure headquartered in Pembroke, Massachusetts with operations in Punta Gorda, Florida. The add-on expands New England Electrical's service coverage across New England and provides a foothold in the growing Florida telecom services market.

Thayer Infrastructure Services, LLC (TIS) has completed the acquisition of J. Lee Associates, Inc., a Marlborough, Massachusetts-based wireless communications construction and site-acquisition services provider. J. Lee will operate under TIS's American Cell Enterprises (ACE) operating company with President James Van Sicklin remaining in place; terms were not disclosed.

Massachusetts Capital Resource Company (MCRC) made a mezzanine loan and equity investment in PureHD, LLC to support the founder's repurchase of outstanding shares held by third-party investors. PureHD, headquartered in Sudbury, Massachusetts, is a provider of commercial satellite TV and streaming/in-room entertainment services to hotels, military lodging, education, MDU and healthcare facilities.

IBM has acquired Sentaca, a Boston-based telecom-focused cloud consulting and professional services firm, to accelerate its hybrid cloud consulting capabilities and strengthen its telco/5G offerings. Sentaca will join IBM Consulting’s Hybrid Cloud Services to help communications service providers and media companies modernize on multiple cloud platforms and drive new revenue streams.

Audax Private Equity acquired a controlling interest in Centerline Communications LLC in a recapitalization transaction (closed August 2021, announced January 2022). Centerline’s founder Josh Delman and Wincove remain minority owners; the investment will support continued organic growth and a buy-and-build strategy (Centerline completed several add-on acquisitions and now employs over 1,200 professionals).

Lightpath announced three concurrent acquisitions to establish an all-fiber, enterprise-grade presence in the Greater Boston area: the purchase of Cambridge Network Solutions (CNS), a second local connectivity provider (unnamed), and the acquisition of fiber network assets from Hub Fiber. The deals add over 80 route miles of fiber serving more than 100 locations (including 12 data centers) and connect Lightpath’s new Boston footprint to its NY Metro network.

QualTek has acquired Aerial Wireless Services (AWS) from The Anderson Group. AWS, based in Bellingham, Massachusetts, was founded in 2013 and provides program management, installation and maintenance services to wireless and broadband operators in the Northeast; the Anderson Group had partnered with CEO Kevin Cunningham to grow the business prior to the sale.

Communication Technology Services (CTS), a Marlborough, Massachusetts-based provider of in‑building wireless and wireless infrastructure services, has received an equity investment from Astra Partners I, the flagship fund of Astra Capital Management. Terms were not disclosed; Astra said the capital will help CTS scale operations and accelerate development of new services, including private wireless network offerings.

Wincove Private Holdings and Stone-Goff Partners completed a recapitalization investment in Centerline Communications and affiliated TowerNorth Development. Management, led by CEO Josh Delman, will remain a significant owner as the investors provide capital and support to grow the telecom infrastructure and tower development platform.

CenturyLink acquired certain strategic assets of the company formerly known as Active Broadband Networks to accelerate its network virtualization efforts. The assets — focused on SDN and NFV-based broadband edge solutions — will help CenturyLink automate its network and deliver software-defined networking and virtualized network functions to customers.

Volaris Group (an operating group of Constellation Software) acquired the Operations Support Systems (OSS) business line of Boston-based Active/Advanced Broadband Networks (ABN). The acquired OSS business will become a business unit of Incognito Software Systems, expanding Incognito/Volaris's communications vertical offerings and usage-based billing capabilities for broadband operators.