With AI driving unprecedented demand for data center infrastructure, the regional and middle-mile fiber market is gaining attention as a critical component of connectivity. eX2, a division of Vivacity Infrastructure Group, is carving out a distinctive approach in this space, combining engineering expertise with turnkey project capabilities. Vivacity CEO Christopher Rabii, a 25-year veteran of the fiber telecom industry, shared insights on the company’s strategy, projects, and growth outlook.
A Career Rooted in Fiber Innovation
Christopher Rabii, an engineer by training, has spent over two decades in fiber-based telecom, including leadership roles at Metromedia Fiber Network (later AboveNet), Lightpath, and FiberLight. In 2020, after overseeing FiberLight’s sale to a New Zealand private equity firm, Rabii joined Vivacity, bringing his experience to the company’s evolving fiber infrastructure platform.
Vivacity and eX2: Evolution and Structure
Founded in 2017, Vivacity initially focused on smart city solutions. After acquiring eX2 in 2019 with Columbia Capital, Vivacity expanded its fiber-focused capabilities while divesting its wireless infrastructure assets. Today, Vivacity Infrastructure Group provides shared corporate services, while eX2 handles fiber infrastructure operations, and Vivacity Networks functions as a holding entity for acquired assets and rights.
Turnkey Fiber Solutions for a Changing Market
eX2 offers end-to-end solutions for communications infrastructure, from conception and design to engineering, construction, maintenance, and commercialization. Unlike traditional design-build firms, eX2 also commercializes network surplus capacity, helping clients maximize the value of their infrastructure.
A landmark project illustrates this approach: a 25-year agreement with the Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona DOT, in which eX2 operates, maintains, and commercializes existing fiber assets. This initiative allows underutilized fiber to support both government and commercial needs, unlocking opportunities for regional connectivity. The Arizona relationship has since led to new builds along I-40 and collaborations with Navajo County, Pima County, and Yuma County, spanning rural middle-mile projects to urban connectivity and precision agriculture.
Expanding Across the U.S.
eX2’s projects extend nationwide:
- Northeast: Middle-mile fiber build in Grafton, New Hampshire.
- Southeast: Atlanta, leveraging the Atlanta Beltline for smart city infrastructure, supporting kiosks, billboards, and World Cup event preparations.
- Midwest: Indiana Toll Road fiber and intelligent transportation system upgrades, Michigan county middle-mile projects, and a privately funded fiber-to-home initiative.
A Golden Age for Fiber Investments
Rabii emphasizes the significant investment opportunities in fiber today, fueled by both public and private funding. Programs like BEAD are expected to further accelerate the market, creating openings for middle-mile and hyperscale connectivity projects.
Looking Ahead: AI, Data Centers, and Infrastructure Needs
As AI and machine learning reshape data center locations and requirements, off-the-beaten-path markets are emerging for hyperscale operators. eX2 positions itself to support these operators, enabling low-latency connectivity to edge markets and addressing the growing infrastructure demands of AI-driven digital ecosystems.
Strategic Growth and M&A Philosophy
While Vivacity keeps an eye on mergers and acquisitions, Rabii notes that the company prioritizes organic growth and building capabilities that align precisely with customer needs. M&A is considered selectively to acquire capabilities that cannot be rapidly developed in-house.
Christopher Rabii’s vision positions Vivacity and eX2 as forward-looking leaders in a fiber infrastructure market poised for rapid expansion, bridging government, enterprise, and hyperscale digital needs.