(Telecompaper) US towers operator Crown Castle confirmed the acquisition of fibre network operator Lightower for USD 7.1 billion. The price agreed with Lightower's owners Berkshire Partners, Pamlico Capital and other investors is worth around 13.5x the expected adjusted EBITDA contribution from Lightower in the first year of ownership. Lightower owns or has rights to 32,000 route miles of fibre in the Northeast US, including major metro areas such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The acquisition adds to a string of takeovers by Crown Castle in recent months to boost its backhaul network and will give the company a total 60,000 route miles of fibre at closing.