Zayo Ranks on Vertical Systems Group’s U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD, Up from Challenge Tier After Crown Castle Fiber Solutions Deal

Key facts:

• Zayo ranked No. 6 on Vertical Systems Group’s Mid-2026 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD based on retail port share, moving up from the Challenge Tier.
• Vertical Systems Group credited Zayo’s May 2026 acquisition of Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions business for Zayo’s move.
• Today, Zayo’s network spans 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles across North America.

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zayo, the leading digital network infrastructure provider, ranks No. 6 on Vertical Systems Group’s Mid-2026 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD, moving up from the Challenge Tier after acquiring Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions business, the deal Vertical Systems Group cited for the move.

What is the U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD?

The LEADERBOARD is Vertical Systems Group’s ranking of U.S. Carrier Ethernet providers based on retail port share as of June 30, 2026. Providers are required to have 4% or more of the U.S. retail Ethernet services market to qualify for the LEADERBOARD, while providers with between 1% and 4% market share are included in the Challenge Tier.

How did Zayo move up to No. 6?

Zayo closed its acquisition of Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions business in May 2026, expanding Zayo’s metro footprint and enterprise reach across the U.S.

“AI and cloud growth depend on the networks that connect them,” said Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Zayo. “Our move onto the LEADERBOARD reflects the scale of Zayo’s digital infrastructure assets and our ability to put capacity where demand is today and where it’s headed in the future.”

What did the Crown Castle Fiber Solutions deal add to Zayo?

Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions business added approximately 90,000 metro route miles and approximately 40,000 on-net enterprise locations to the Zayo network. The combined network spans 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles across North America, expanding Zayo’s metro reach and density alongside its extensive long-haul network.

Seven providers qualified for the Mid-2026 LEADERBOARD with at least 4% of the U.S. retail Ethernet services market.

Where can enterprises learn more about Zayo Ethernet?

Vertical Systems Group’s U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD ranks providers based on the number of billable retail customer ports installed across six service segments: Ethernet Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), E-Access to IP/MPLS VPN, Ethernet Private Lines, Ethernet Virtual Private Lines, Metro LAN, and WAN VPLS. To learn more about Zayo’s Ethernet solutions, visit: https://www.zayo.com/services/network-connectivity/ethernet/

About Zayo

The world’s digital future depends on networks that perform. Zayo builds and operates those networks. As the leading digital network infrastructure provider, the Zayo network spans 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles across North America and connects more than 400 markets globally. With dense long-haul and metro fiber connectivity, tailored connectivity solutions, and managed services, Zayo’s network underpins the cloud, AI, and enterprise platforms powering the digital economy. Carriers, cloud providers, data centers, enterprises, schools, and governments rely on Zayo’s future-ready infrastructure and expertise to design, scale, and operate the networks that connect what’s next. Discover how Zayo connects what’s next at www.zayo.com and follow us on LinkedIn.