ALBANY — Vermont’s first locally operated statewide provider of residential telephone and Internet services has bought a majority stake in a consortium of New York telecommunication companies that connects 60 upstate communities with fiber-optic networks.

Almost eight months after the Independent Optical Network filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Sovernet Communications last week announced its acquisition of the Albany consortium.

In December, the Empire State Independent Network, which operates as ION, filed for Chapter 11 in an Albany courthouse. The filing came as a major fiber vendor threatened to terminate its services.

“The bankruptcy allowed us to save the business by selling it to someone else,” said ION attorney Richard Weisz.

ION President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Becker said the deal will enable the consortium to continue operating in Albany. It will also be able to complete its goal of developing a statewide fiber network that spans almost 2,400 miles.

ION’s network currently includes 2,200 miles of fiber from New York City to Albany to Buffalo. With resources running tight, ION could not finish the last leg of its network between Buffalo and Jamestown.

ION is a type of carrier’s carrier in the telecom industry. Wireless and broadband providers tap into its network to offer services to consumers. The Albany consortium has more than 40 customers, including up to 10 in the Capital Region.

Four years ago, 13 independent telecoms — including Seamless Geoport Communications in Middleburgh and Slenca in Coxsackie — teamed up to provide more efficient and less-expensive Internet connections in rural areas.

Along with Sovernet, 12 of those telecoms ended up investing in an entity called ION Holdco. Becker would not say which upstate telecom opted not to invest in the new firm.

Becker said ION will retain its seven employees in Albany. The sale will provide $400,000 for unsecured creditors, but a total purchase price was not disclosed.

Sovernet President and CEO Rick Kendall said ION “fits nicely into our core strategy of delivering high-quality network services to the traditionally underserved rural areas.” Sovernet was founded in 1995 and is a subsidiary of the Atlantic Tele-Network in Salem, Mass.

During the bankruptcy proceedings, ION also established a plan to wean itself off a fiber network owned by Elantic Telecom, which two years ago acquired ION’s primary fiber lessor, The Cavalier Telephone Company in Richmond, Va. Cavalier had threatened to end its lease agreements with ION in December, but the Chapter 11 filing stayed that action.

“This [deal] effectively gets us out of bankruptcy. … That’s what we sought to do and we were able to get it done,” said Becker.