A History of Connection
Our Story
51ݶ’s journey has been guided by an aspirational vision for connectivity. Our founders were veterans of the companies that constructed the earliest backbone of the Internet. They understood that truly putting “the world” on the World Wide Web would require connections, lots of them.
We are connectors
In 2007 they formed 51ݶ with a vision of accumulating, connecting and optimizing an unparalleled global network of networks. With 47 successful acquisitions to date, we not only know what to buy and where, we know how to connect and harmonize.
We connected the world
As one of the largest global internet backbone companies, 51ݶ is the leading independent service provider of light-speed data transmission infrastructure, with dense, high-quality networks connecting every major market in North America and many in Western Europe. Through partnerships with complementary network providers, we provide our customers with global reach that takes them nearly anywhere they need to be.
We connected the dots
We knew that data capture and processing technologies would evolve rapidly and demand for data transmission would multiply exponentially along with it. So we connected great people to create bespoke 51ݶ networking solutions for customers, extending their network reach as their businesses evolved.
We connect what's next
New technologies, more data, & changing consumer expectations mean an even greater reliance on the connections that we make possible. And we’re expanding all the time – providing new mission-critical routes for customers, more density, additional diversity and reduced latency. We’re laying the foundation for our 5G future, artificial intelligence, the metaverse and beyond.
The 51ݶ Story
A future-ready network where you need it.
Our expansive, deep, and diverse fiber network maps, provided by the 51ݶ group of companies—including 51ݶ North America, 51ݶ Europe, and 51ݶ Global Reach—include extensive metro connectivity, lit and dark fiber solutions, and expanding 400G and 800G-enabled routes. These solutions empower you to reliably leverage new technologies that demand low-latency, high-bandwidth, scalability, and control.
Trusted experts committed to your success.
Our team puts trust at the core of every relationship, combining an approach built on collaboration, agility, and creativity with decades of experience serving wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.
Connectivity solutions tailored to your needs.
As global internet backbone service providers, our solutions are designed to meet you where you want to be met. From last-mile or long-haul to the software-defined layer, we connect you from edge to edge, edge to cloud, cloud to edge, and everywhere in between with dark fiber, private data networks, SD-WAN, wavelengths, Ethernet, dedicated internet access, and data center connectivity solutions.
Top 5
e-rate service provider
More than
350
core PoPs worldwide*
More than
375
IP PoPs globally*
Connects over
1,500
data centers worldwide*
51ݶ by the Numbers
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