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Internet & Network
Network connectivity, secure data transport and business enablement solutions for your organization.
WHITEPAPER
How Crosslake Fibre and Acronym Solutions Created a Strategic Cross-Border Partnership
In an industry where most providers operate transactionally, Acronym Solutions and Crosslake Fibre have built something different: a two-way partnership grounded in trust, mutual reliance, and shared technical expertise. Both organizations brought something distinct to the table: Acronym with its extensive Ontario fibre network, and Crosslake with its unique subsea infrastructure under Lake Ontario. Built on complementary network strengths, the relationship became a working partnership focused on solving real customer challenges. As demand for high-performance connectivity continues to grow, the priority extends beyond building networks to delivering them in a way that meets increasingly critical expectations.
"IT'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WHERE BOTH COMPANIES GENUINELY RELY ON EACH OTHER." — LUBO VACULIK, MANAGING DIRECTOR, SALES AT ACRONYM SOLUTIONS
Key Takeaways
- Strategic, Two-Way Partnership: Rather than operating transactionally, Acronym (regional Ontario fibre infrastructure) and Crosslake Fibre (subsea Lake Ontario path) leveraged complementary assets to expand cross-border connectivity into the U.S. and across Canada.
- Purpose-Built Engineering over “Off-the-Shelf”: To serve high-stakes capital markets, the teams co-engineered custom infrastructure—including a new east-side entrance into the Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX) facility and a diverse route through Ottawa to Montreal.
- Enhanced Resilience & Low Latency: The joint route bypasses traditional downtown Toronto bottlenecks to provide critical route diversity, ultra-low latency, and financial-grade redundancy between the TMX and the New York/New Jersey liquidity triangle.
- Accelerated Speed to Market: Joint engineering, aligned planning, and direct communication reduced operational risk and streamlined complex permitting and construction processes.
- Proven Financial & Strategic Results: Across 10 joint projects, the partnership has driven recurring revenue, extended Acronym’s reach into U.S. markets, and deepened Crosslake’s footprint across Ontario.
The Challenge
In high-stakes environments like capital markets, milliseconds carry real financial consequences. Trading platforms demand near-zero downtime, and even minimal disruption can impact data integrity and market confidence.
For Crosslake, a leader in ultra-low-latency connectivity between the Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX) and the New York–New Jersey liquidity triangle, the challenge was not performance alone, it was how to scale it. Its subsea fibre route under Lake Ontario established clear differentiation. Extending their high performance connectivity deeper into Canada required:
- Route diversity beyond traditional downtown Toronto pathways to ensure full redundancy and uptime
- Infrastructure aligned with financial-grade precision
To connect the TMX to Montreal and Ottawa in a way that met these requirements, Crosslake needed a partner whose network and capabilities could match its own.
At the same time, Acronym was looking to expand its cross-border capabilities while continuing to build on its Ontario-based network. What both organizations required was a partner capable of working at their level—technically, operationally, and strategically.
The Solution
With complementary infrastructure and a shared approach to network design, Acronym and Crosslake built a partnership centered on delivering high performance connectivity across Canada and into the United States. Each organization brings established strengths:
Acronym:
- Fibre infrastructure across Ontario, enabling connectivity into Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal
- The ability to design and deliver custom-built routes, including new network entry points
Crosslake:
- A subsea fibre route under Lake Ontario, forming the lowest latency path between Canada and the U.S.
- A network built specifically for performance-sensitive financial connectivity
The value of these unique capabilities is how they’re used to deliver solutions designed for highly specific routing and performance requirements.
The TMX–Montreal Build
An example of this partnership in action is the TMX–Montreal route. Crosslake required a fully diverse path out of the TMX that avoided traditional downtown routes while integrating into its broader network. From the outset, both teams worked together to define how that path would be built. Planning moved quickly into joint design, with engineering guiding execution. Both teams remained closely involved as the solution developed.
The resulting path included:
- A new entrance into the TMX facility from the east side
- A diverse fibre route through Ottawa to Montreal
- Integration into Crosslake’s backbone for onward connectivity into New York
"THIS WASN'T OFF-THE-SHELF. IT WAS ENGINEERED AND BUILT SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS." — LUBO VACULIK, MANAGING DIRECTOR, SALES, ACRONYM SOLUTIONS
This project required coordinated engineering, permitting, and construction, supported by continuous communication. Rather than adapting an existing route, the solution was purpose-built.
Working as One Team
The TMX–Montreal project reflects how Acronym and Crosslake work together more broadly. Planning is closely tied to engineering input, ensuring what is proposed can be delivered. This allows both teams to move forward with clarity. Throughout delivery, communication remains direct and consistent, allowing issues such as permitting or site access to be addressed quickly. This approach extends beyond individual builds:
- Acronym incorporates Crosslake’s subsea route to support its cross-border connectivity
- Crosslake relies on Acronym’s infrastructure to extend its reach across Ontario
In practice, both teams operate as close partners,
designing and delivering solutions that meet
demanding network requirements.
The Results
"WE’RE PROACTIVE, CREATIVE, AND DYNAMIC IN HOW WE BUILD SOLUTIONS, AND WE DEMAND THE SAME FROM OUR PARTNERS. THE TMX PROJECT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE—CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION, COMPLEX PERMITTING, AND A SOLUTION THAT SIMPLY WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE AS AN OFF-THE-SHELF PRODUCT." — FERGUS INNES, CCO, CROSSLAKE FIBRE
The Acronym-Crosslake partnership has delivered tangible strategic value
for both organizations and their clients:
- Expanded Network Reach: Together, they’ve created high-capacity
routes from Toronto through Ottawa and Montreal, extending directly
into the U.S. through integrated cross-border infrastructure. - Enhanced Route Diversity: Acronym’s custom-built TMX entrance and
regional fibre assets complement Crosslake’s subsea route, providing
critical geographic redundancy. - Accelerated Project Delivery: Shared trust and communication
improve timelines and reduce operational risk. - Cross-Border Market Growth: Acronym enables Canadian enterprises
to access U.S. connectivity, while Crosslake expands its presence
across Ontario through Acronym’s regional network. - Strong Customer Solutions: Throughout 10 projects, they’ve delivered
high-performance connectivity, generated recurring revenue, and
strengthened both networks.
The Takeaway
The Acronym–Crosslake partnership reflects what’s possible when
infrastructure, technical depth, and an engineering-first mindset are combined with a transparent approach to problem-solving.
Together, they’ve created differentiated routes that neither could offer alone,
enabling clients to achieve enhanced route diversity, resilience, and performance in one of the most latency-sensitive industries in the world.
By coordinating how their networks extend across borders, both organizations have scaled high-performance connectivity, expanding Acronym’s reach into the U.S. and strengthening Crosslake’s presence in Canada.
This approach defines how Acronym works with partners: building relationships that extend networks, strengthen capabilities, and deliver lasting value where it matters most.
"WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE. WE NEED PARTNERS IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIES WHO SHARE OUR VIEW OF WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE. RELATIONSHIPS LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE WITH ACRONYM ALLOW US TO GROW." — FERGUS INNES, CCO, CROSSLAKE FIBRE
FAQ's
Q: What core challenge did Acronym and Crosslake Fibre set out to solve?
A: Crosslake needed to scale its ultra-low-latency financial connectivity between the Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX) and the New York–New Jersey liquidity triangle. Expanding deeper into Ottawa and Montreal required strict route diversity outside traditional downtown Toronto pathways to guarantee financial-grade redundancy and near-zero downtime.
Q: What unique infrastructure was co-engineered for the TMX-Montreal build?
A: Instead of adapting existing off-the-shelf routes, the two companies co-engineered a custom solution. This included constructing a brand-new eastern entrance into the TMX facility, establishing a diverse fibre path through Ottawa to Montreal, and integrating seamlessly into Crosslake’s subsea backbone for cross-border reach into New York.
Q: How do Acronym and Crosslake Fibre complement each other's networks?
A: Acronym brings extensive regional fibre infrastructure across Ontario along with custom route design capabilities. Crosslake Fibre contributes its unique subsea route under Lake Ontario, which offers the lowest-latency path between Canada and the U.S. tailored for performance-sensitive financial trading.
Q: What were the key business and operational results of this partnership?
A: Across 10 joint projects, the partnership generated recurring revenue, accelerated delivery timelines, and reduced operational risk through direct collaboration. Strategically, Acronym gained cross-border U.S. access for Canadian enterprises, while Crosslake expanded its geographic footprint across Ontario.
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About Acronym
Acronym Solutions Inc. is a full-service information and communications technology (ICT) company that provides a range of scalable and secure Network, Voice & Collaboration, Security, Cloud and Managed IT Solutions. We support Canadian businesses, large enterprises, service providers, healthcare providers, public-sector organizations and utilities. We leverage our extensive network expertise to design and build customized, fully scalable solutions to help our customers grow their businesses and realize their full potential. With more than 20 years’ experience managing the communications system that enables Ontario’s electrical grid, Acronym is uniquely positioned to understand the mission-critical needs of any business to deliver the innovative and reliable services that respond to the changing demands of businesses, and support rapid growth and digital transformation initiatives.