Blue Owl Launches Kirkwood Infrastructure Group to Power Next-Gen U.S. Connectivity

In July 2026, Blue Owl launches Kirkwood Infrastructure Group to hasten the next generation of U.S. digital connectivity. This venture evolves advanced conduit and high-count fiber infrastructure to encourage the escalating expansion of hyperscale data centers and next-generation connectivity across the U.S.

How Kirkwood IG Delivers Next-Gen Fiber Infrastructure

Kirkwood IG evolves, commands, and manages advanced conduit and high-count fiber optic cable infrastructure, mainly assisting hyperscale customers, data center operators, and communications carriers. Led by well-experienced executives, including CEO Scott Bergs, CFO Tim Leighton, and others, the team efficiently deployed over 600 miles of network in five years by heavily utilizing previous platforms like South Reach Networks.

Kirkwood IG also integrated operations from Florida-based SRN by operating around 400 miles of network and 40 data centers, constructing over 200 miles of high-capacity fiber across Louisiana and Mississippi to reinforce the extensive growth of hyperscale data centers. The company aims to expand into new markets with the backing of Blue Owl and key partners.

Scott Bergs noted the importance of the digital infrastructure buildout in the U.S. Chris Jensen from Blue Owl also emphasized the growth potential in the Southeast for Kirkwood IG's network capabilities, which will enable the next wave of compute requirements and digital transformation.

Impact on the ICT Industry

Blue Owl's launch of the Kirkwood Infrastructure Group has a great impact on the ICT industry, reflecting a strategic shift in the industry, with true winners of the AI and cloud computing race owning the entire localized ecosystem, which mainly includes power, land, cooling, and the high-capacity fiber networks that interconnect data centers.

The overall impact of this new digital infrastructure venture is to expand the physical foundation where Kirkwood is driving down the infrastructure chain by developing high-count fiber-optic cables and conduit systems specifically to manage the extensive bandwidth of hyperscale customers.

By shifting from just financing data center real estate to owning the connectivity roads themselves, the launch signals validation of digital ecosystems where institutional capital views AI-linked fiber networks as a highly critical, standalone asset class.

Regional network integration of Florida-based South Reach Networks, adding around 400 miles of network and approximately 40 data centers to the ICT ecosystem. Additionally, as a new ecosystem, the group is building over 200 miles of conduit and fiber across Louisiana and Mississippi to support hyperscale developments, bringing dense, low-latency infrastructure to previously underserved ICT markets.

Impact of the Data Center Cable Industry

The global data center cable market size accounted for USD 13.70 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 15.15 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 37.52 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 10.60% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the data center cable market was revolutionized by this launch, as this facilitates a major push to capture skyrocketing AI and cloud-driven data center connectivity demand. This new platform solidifies a more integrated and high-capacity digital ecosystem.

Overall, contrasting standard telecom projects, this launch exceptionally targets the massive bandwidth requirements of cloud providers, AI developers, and data center operators by transforming investment toward deep, high-count fiber architectures. Kirkwood is constructing over 200 miles of new high-capacity conduit and fiber networks across Louisiana and Mississippi to encourage hyperscale data center clusters. Operating separately from Blue Owl’s other digital platforms, like Gigabit Fiber, Kirkwood provides a targeted avenue to scale distinct regional and national digital corridors.

To overcome the integration and execution risk by retaining highly experienced network developers and leveraging standardized, pre-fabricated cabling modules.  Power and energy constraints by coordinating with regional utilities and investing in parallel temporary power solutions for long-term renewable grid commitments. These also address supply chain and cable scarcity by establishing long-term master service agreements and prioritizing next-generation modular cabling designs.

About Blue Owl Capital

Blue Owl Capital is a prominent alternative asset manager overseeing over USD 300 billion in assets, providing private capital solutions across three multi-strategy platforms, including Credit, Real Assets, and GP Strategic Capital, which are anchored by permanent capital and thus serve institutional investors, financial advisors, and individuals.

The most demanded service is Credit (Direct Lending), offering debt and equity to mid-to-large and tech-focused companies via vehicles like OBDC and OTF. The Real Assets division emphasizes net-lease real estate and digital infrastructure like data centers, while GP Strategic Capital acquires equity stakes in other alternative asset managers.

Blue Owl offers diverse investment products tailored to various client profiles for the distribution of these strategies. These include publicly traded and non-traded Business Development Companies (BDCs), custom institutional accounts for pensions and endowments, and specialized portfolios designed for insurance companies.