Gigabit Fiber, a Dallas-based metro fiber provider, has signed a long-term lease extension agreement with data center operator DataBank.

The agreement includes additional space at DataBank’s DFW1 facility at 400 S. Akard in downtown Dallas, Texas.

Also, as part of the lease extension, Gigabit Fiber will develop an office, lab, and hyperconnected data center environment. The upgraded facility will serve as a key hub for Gigabit’s most important network operations.

The investment will also see the deployment of a multi-million dollar optical network to support the growing demands of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and ultra-low latency connectivity.

“Our commercial relationship with DataBank began in 2002 and has steadily grown over the past two decades,” said Tom Spackman, CEO of Gigabit Fiber. “Our renewed, long-term commitment to 400 S. Akard is a testament to the power of a highly connected, expertly managed interconnect environment. We share a symbiotic relationship with DataBank and recently launched a high-capacity network serving their new Red Oak, Texas, campus. We’re excited to continue building on this momentum.”

Gigabit Fiber is a Dallas-based metro fiber optic infrastructure provider. The company owns and operates more than 1,000 route miles of deep fiber and conduit systems in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and South Texas.

DataBank’s footprint comprises more than 84 data centers across 37 markets in two countries.