Pilot Fiber to Acquire Enterprise Fiber Business of Extenet Systems

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 5, 2026--

Pilot Fiber, an enterprise connectivity provider in the New York metro area, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the enterprise fiber business of Extenet Systems, LLC. The transaction, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

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Extenet’s enterprise fiber business includes assets from its prior acquisitions of Hudson Fiber Network, a purpose-built fiber network connecting Manhattan to New Jersey via a Hudson River crossing to serve the financial services industry, and Axiom Fiber Network, a New York City startup that provided high-capacity dark fiber between data centers. Upon closing, the transaction will expand Pilot's owned fiber footprint into New Jersey, add more than 20 additional data centers to its network, and accelerate growth across the enterprise, carrier, wholesale, financial services, and healthcare verticals.

"This acquisition meaningfully advances Pilot's long-term strategy," said Joseph Fasone, CEO of Pilot. “Extenet has assembled a high-density fiber network, established enterprise and carrier relationships, and built a footprint that reaches all of the major carrier hotels. We see a clear path to providing additional value and an exceptional customer experience to our new and existing customers across a larger fiber footprint.”

The newly acquired assets provide Pilot with high-capacity fiber infrastructure connecting Manhattan to the major New Jersey data center corridors—a key expansion that strengthens the company's position serving enterprise and carrier customers who require diverse, high-capacity connectivity.

The transaction significantly expands Pilot's network capabilities across both data centers and enterprise buildings, including:

Extenet’s enterprise fiber business serves approximately 200 enterprise, carrier, and institutional customers across financial services, healthcare, media, and higher education. Pilot plans to integrate these customers onto its network and platforms by the transaction close, leveraging its operational model to improve service delivery, response times, and customer experience.

"Our in-house construction capabilities, modern network architecture, and direct customer support model position us to immediately enhance service quality for these customers," Fasone added. "We're investing in both the network infrastructure and the customer experience from day one."

Post-closing, Pilot will focus on expanding network capabilities, investing in additional data center connectivity, and leveraging its combined footprint to serve enterprise and carrier customers requiring comprehensive connectivity solutions across the New York metro area.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Bank Street Group LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Extenet Systems, LLC in connection with this transaction.

About Pilot Fiber

Pilot Fiber delivers enterprise-grade connectivity to businesses across the New York metro area through complete network ownership and in-house operational expertise. Since 2014, the company has built a network of 300+ miles of modern fiber infrastructure throughout New York City, serving 3,500+ businesses across 1,000+ buildings with a full suite of services: Dedicated Internet Access, Ethernet Transport, Dark Fiber, Wavelength, and IP Transit. Pilot's end-to-end ownership model delivers 5-15 day installations in on-net buildings versus the industry standard of 30-90 days—with transparent pricing, 24/7 access to knowledgeable support, and no contracts required. Learn more at pilotfiber.com.

About Extenet

Headquartered in Frisco, Texas, Extenet is the premier privately-held provider of digital infrastructure connecting its customers, partners and communities. Extenet delivers dynamic connectivity solutions that power today’s essential and evolving communications needs. Extenet’s exceptional network capabilities ensure an elevated end-user experience that enables it to effectively partner with wireless carriers, sports, entertainment and hospitality venues, enterprises, government and more.

The transaction will expand Pilot's owned fiber footprint into New Jersey, and add key data centers across the New York metro area to its network.

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday with U.K. inflation remaining above target and economic growth is showing signs of picking up.

The decision was widely anticipated in financial markets but the split on the nine-member rate-setting panel was much closer than expected. Five members of the Monetary Policy Committee opted to keep rates unchanged while four voted for a quarter-point cut.

The central bank, which sets interest rates for the whole of the U.K., has been steadily reducing interest rates over the past 18 months, more often than not every three months. It last cut its key rate in December and indicated that further reductions are likely this year.

Economic forecasts accompanying the decision reinforced the view that further rate cuts are in the offing, as the bank is predicting that inflation will fall back to its 2% target in the coming months. It currently stands at 3.4%.

“We now think that inflation will fall back to around 2% by the spring," said Bank Governor Andrew Bailey. “That’s good news. We need to make sure that inflation stays there, so we’ve held rates unchanged at 3.75% today. All going well, there should be scope for some further reduction in Bank Rate this year.”

Britain’s Labour government, which has lost significant support since it won the general election in 2024 partly because of the economy, is counting on inflation falling sharply this year, which would allow the central bank to further reduce borrowing costs.

Lower interest rates help spur economic growth by reducing borrowing costs, which can lead to increased spending by consumers and boost investment by businesses. But that can also fuel higher prices.

Central bankers have to weigh those competing forces, trying to prevent inflation from eroding the value of earnings and savings without putting an unnecessary brake on economic growth.

People walk in front of the Bank of England, at the financial district in London, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 as the Bank of England holding its first interest rate meeting in 2026 at a time when inflation in the UK remains above target and economic growth is stubbornly low. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A man walks in front of the Bank of England, at the financial district in London, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 as the Bank of England holding its first interest rate meeting in 2026 at a time when inflation in the UK remains above target and economic growth is stubbornly low. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A man walks in front of the Bank of England, at the financial district in London, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 as the Bank of England holding its first interest rate meeting in 2026 at a time when inflation in the UK remains above target and economic growth is stubbornly low. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

FILE - Pedestrians pass the Bank of England in London, on Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)