Lightpath has signed a 10-year agreement with a multinational data center developer and operator as the second infrastructure tenant on its underground fiber build in eastern Pennsylvania, according to a press release from the company.

The new tenant will use more than 60% of Lightpath's combined eastern Pennsylvania in-process fiber build. The agreement expands the planned regional capacity by approximately 30% and adds an additional multi-gigawatt campus to the network.

"Because our Eastern Pennsylvania build was already underway, we were able to avoid designing a separate build for this campus, increase the scale of the regional system and incorporate additional infrastructure within the existing construction schedule," said Tim Haverkate, Chief Commercial Officer at Lightpath.

Lightpath CEO Chris Morley said the addition of a second tenant validates the company's strategy of building long-term regional capacity rather than addressing single customer requirements. "Securing a second infrastructure tenant on this build validates that thesis and bolsters our investment case," he said.

Lightpath said it plans to offer high-bandwidth connectivity from eastern Pennsylvania to other markets, including New York, Ashburn, Columbus, and Chicago. Connectivity to Chicago is contingent on the company's previously announced Columbus-to-Chicago long-haul corridor becoming ready for service.

Lightpath is jointly owned by Optimum Communications (NYSE: OPTU) and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.