United States | 2026
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Debra Freitas has spearheaded the ambitious expansion of Light Source Communications (LSC) from a small dark fiber network provider into a connectivity powerhouse driving the growth of AI, neoclouds, Machine Learning (ML) and other High-Performance Computing (HPC) technologies. As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Debra oversees business development, strategic planning and customer relationships. She also leads the executive team in support of LSC’s mission as a network owner-operator serving global hyperscalers and enterprise customers in strategic U.S. markets. LSC is a carrier neutral, customer agnostic provider delivering enhanced dark fiber infrastructure specifically designed to solve the bottlenecks of the AI era: capacity, latency, and resilience. Her experience includes about 15 years in the industry along with previous work in project management for industrial build projects. A results-oriented leader, Debra spearheaded new dark fiber builds for LSC totaling over 1,250 miles between five metro rings and a long-haul route connecting to key cities. Critical to these projects, she has secured agreements with the largest tech companies in the world as part of efforts to expand access to dark fiber in high-demand locations, cementing LSC’s status as a trusted partner in delivering state-of-the-art connectivity. Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, and serves as a member of several organizations, including Arizona Technology Council, Women’s Tech Forum, iMasons, Women’s Infrastructure Network and Alliance of Channel Women.
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Sarah McCarthy
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Outstanding Female in PR & Communications - New Category
Country / Region
Australia