AiThority Interview with Tim Haverkate, SVP of Commercial Operations at Lightpath

Tim Haverkate, SVP of Commercial Operations at Lightpath highlights pointers on improved network infrastructure processes to handle the increasing demand for bandwidth and connectivity, strategies effective for ensuring network scalability, data traffic challenge management and more in this quick chat:

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Hi Tim, can you briefly share your career journey and what led you to your current role in commercial operations at Lightpath?

My career journey has been driven by a deep curiosity and passion for solving complex challenges. It all began in 2012 when I joined Zayo Group as part of its Mobile Infrastructure Group. Those years, from 2012 to 2020, were an incredibly dynamic period in the telecom industry, marked by the transformative Fiber to the Tower (FTTT) rollout. My role at Zayo provided a front-row seat to the rapid evolution of the industry, where I had the privilege of learning from seasoned industry veterans while tackling critical challenges firsthand.
One of the most unique aspects of my time at Zayo was the opportunity to participate in a leadership rotational program, which exposed me to a wide variety of functional areas, including finance, product, and sales. This experience gave me a well-rounded foundation to navigate the complexities of the telecom sector. It also provided me with a broad perspective on industry dynamics and a deep appreciation for being at the forefront of technological innovation.
In 2021, I joined Lightpath, drawn by the opportunity to build an Offer Management organization from the ground up. This role allowed me to apply everything I had learned at Zayo, from developing systems and processes that aligned with industry demands to building a team dedicated to understanding the telecommunication needs of our partners. We leveraged emerging technologies, including AI, to propel the business forward.
As my time at Lightpath progressed, my responsibilities expanded significantly. I moved into roles leading the product, marketing, and data analytics teams, which enabled me to adopt a broader, more strategic perspective on growth initiatives. A key focus of my work involved identifying and executing strategic expansion opportunities, often partnering with anchor customers to extend our network into new geographies. Collaborating with some of the largest bandwidth procurers in the industry was both exciting and rewarding, as it allowed us to meet their evolving needs while driving meaningful growth for the company.
Recently, I assumed the role of EVP, Major Infrastructure Solutions, where I’m leading efforts to partner with hyperscalers to deploy the networks of the future, particularly in support of Generative AI applications. It’s an exciting next chapter where I’ll have the chance to shape the future of telecom infrastructure alongside some of the most innovative players in the industry.
Looking back, each chapter of my career has built on the last, providing me with a unique ability to balance strategic vision with operational excellence. I’m thrilled to bring this experience to my new role and continue driving progress as we craft the network of the future.

With the rapid proliferation of data centers driven by AI, how is Lightpath preparing its network infrastructure to handle the increasing demand for bandwidth and connectivity?

One of the most exciting aspects of my role is collaborating with some of the largest consumers of bandwidth to design and build the networks that will power connectivity for decades to come. 2024 was a transformative year for Lightpath, as we achieved more than $110 million in bookings—a testament to the growing demand for our solutions.
In November, we took a significant step forward with the acquisition of UFD, a critical network that connects New York to Ashburn, Virginia—home to the largest data center market in the world. This strategic acquisition positions us to meet the surging demand for AI-driven workloads, enabling seamless connectivity for our customers. Alongside this, we are leveraging our existing
network footprint while also building new network infrastructure in key markets to stay ahead of demand.
Our foundation is strong: Lightpath operates a 100% fiber network spanning approximately 10,800 unique route miles, making it one of the largest networks in the Northeast. This robust infrastructure enables us to meet the growing bandwidth and connectivity needs driven by AI. To ensure scalability for future growth, we are heavily investing in high-fiber-count builds as part of our overbuild strategy.
In anticipation of the rapid proliferation of data centers, we’ve also taken proactive steps to identify key locations and enable connectivity before demand peaks. In 2024, we upgraded our network core with Ciena RLS nodes, boosting our capacity to an impressive 30Tb/s with the ability to scale up to 60Tb/s on a single pair of fiber. These upgrades ensure our network can meet the high-performance, low-latency demands of AI workloads while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to emerging market needs.
As the nature of AI-related workloads continues to evolve, we’re investing in automation to provide customers with the ability to spin up elastic connections on demand. By offering greater control, improved observability, and integrated security, we are empowering customers to fine-tune their networks based on unique workload requirements. Over time, we aim to extend our advantage from the physical network layer to the software layer, incorporating AI to help customers optimize their network performance in real-time.
At Lightpath, we’re not just keeping pace with the demands of AI; we’re shaping the infrastructure that will support this next wave of innovation.

As data volumes surge due to AI workloads, what strategies do you see as most effective for ensuring network scalability and minimizing latency across Lightpath’s services?

As AI workloads transform industries, Lightpath recognizes that existing network infrastructures often fall short of meeting the unprecedented demands for bandwidth and low latency. To address this, we’ve adopted a forward-thinking approach, building entirely new network pathways designed for the future. This includes constructing multiple conduits and establishing direct routes between established and emerging data center corridors, particularly in regions with reliable, sustainable power sources driving development. By anticipating these shifts, Lightpath ensures its network can support the scalability and performance demands of AI-driven applications.
Minimizing latency is equally critical, as AI workloads like real-time data processing and machine learning require near-instantaneous communication. By creating direct routes that bypass congestion, we maintain ultra-low latency, supporting applications where even milliseconds matter, such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare analytics, and financial modeling. Our proactive expansion, driven by collaboration with customers and industry partners, ensures Lightpath provides not just connectivity, but a foundation for the next wave of AI innovation.

How can AI-driven insights help Lightpath optimize bandwidth management and streamline the delivery of high-performance connectivity solutions to clients?

At Lightpath, we are in the early stages of integrating AI across our operations, but we see it as a cornerstone for future innovation. AI-driven insights offer immense potential to transform how we optimize bandwidth management and deliver high-performance connectivity solutions to our clients.
A key area of focus is using AI to gain a holistic understanding of the customer experience, particularly in the delivery process. For large-scale, complex network buildouts, thousands of interconnected tasks must align seamlessly to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery. AI can serve as a critical enabler, coordinating these efforts, identifying bottlenecks, and streamlining workflows to improve efficiency.
AI will also play an increasingly significant role in risk management. By analyzing vast datasets, AI can predict potential challenges—such as delays, resource shortages, or cost overruns—and provide actionable insights to address these risks proactively. This level of precision and foresight empowers us to deliver more reliable, scalable solutions that meet the growing demands of our clients, especially as bandwidth requirements surge with the rise of AI-driven workloads and other data-intensive applications.
By integrating AI into our operations, we position ourselves to anticipate challenges, adapt to evolving client needs, and lead in delivering innovative, high-performance connectivity solutions.

What role do you believe AI will play in enhancing network reliability and proactively managing the challenges associated with increased data traffic?

Imagine a bustling city with an intelligent traffic system that predicts and prevents congestion, reroutes vehicles, and ensures smooth flow. AI plays a similar role in networks, revolutionizing reliability by enabling real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and intelligent traffic management.
AI anticipates and resolves issues—like congestion or hardware failures—before they impact users, ensuring uninterrupted performance for critical applications like telemedicine and financial transactions. As technologies like IoT, 5G, and edge computing increase data traffic, AI scales and optimizes network operations, creating self-sustaining ecosystems that meet the demands of a hyper-connected world.

Looking forward, how do you see AI shaping Lightpath’s ability to meet the growing connectivity needs of enterprise clients over the next 3-5 years?

AI is set to transform Lightpath’s ability to meet the growing connectivity needs of enterprise clients over the next 3-5 years. Today, data center ecosystems are the backbone of AI training, requiring ultra-high-scale connectivity for massive compute infrastructures and data sets. But as AI evolves, inference workloads will shift to edge data centers, demanding upgraded, distributed networks to process data closer to where it’s needed.
This shift will lead to a reimagining of networks, with machine learning hubs emerging as critical aggregation points alongside traditional carrier hotels. These hubs will reduce latency and enhance efficiency, enabling enterprises to integrate AI into real-time decision-making seamlessly.
The growing reliance on AI will drive unprecedented demand for fiber connectivity between enterprise locations and data centers. Lightpath’s extensive fiber network and expertise in high-capacity, low-latency solutions position us to lead this transformation. By proactively enabling this infrastructure, we can help enterprises stay competitive and thrive in an AI-driven future.

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