Allied Riser Communications ('ARC') and AirFiber Announce Strategic Initiative Designed to Break Local-Access Bottleneck to Buildings With High-Bandwidth Services
Company Begins Initiative With Trial of AirFiber's OptiMesh(TM) Wireless Optical Network
DALLAS, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Riser Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: ARCC - news) and AirFiber, Incorporated today unveiled a strategic technology initiative aimed at eliminating local-access barriers to high-bandwidth connectivity for ARC customers. ARC announced it would begin trials of a wireless optical network developed by AirFiber, one of the nation's leading wireless optical telecommunications equipment providers.
Unveiled today after two years of development, AirFiber's OptiMesh network equipment provides high-bandwidth (up to 622 Mbps) communications designed to allow ARC to obtain access to customers at a fraction of the cost and time required to secure access from current suppliers. The OptiMesh network is based on wireless optical networking technology, which has the ability to deliver high-bandwidth access for voice, data and multimedia services over the air using invisible beams of light.
``ARC is the clear leader in breaking the 'bandwidth bottlenecks' that have stalled the delivery of broadband services to businesses operating inside commercial office buildings,'' said David Crawford, ARC's chief executive officer. ``Both inside the building and outside the building, ARC has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to engineer and deliver the highest quality broadband connectivity and services to business customers nationwide. We expect free space optics, as demonstrated with our AirFiber trials, will be a significant component of our 'circuit breaker' strategy,'' Crawford continued. ``That strategy will include acquisition and lighting of fiber outside the building, the use of unlicensed wireless spectrum, as well as free space optics. We are working with many of the leading equipment suppliers and service providers in each of these arenas as we continue to evaluate best of class vendors and partners.''
ARC is the nation's premiere provider of high-speed broadband Internet data, video and voice services and applications to businesses of all sizes. ARC delivers its services via the ARC LightSpeed Network(TM) that provides customers with a direct ``always-on'' connection to the Internet at speeds up to six times faster than DSL or T-1 lines.
The OptiMesh network was designed to meet the explosive growth in high- bandwidth demand among businesses. AirFiber designed the system to be a reliable and cost-effective system to allow ARC the ability to extend fiber- like access to customers without the cost and time constraints typically required for fiber. The network's short-link ``mesh'' architecture provides carrier-grade reliability of 99.999% in even the most severe weather conditions.
``The OptiMesh network will enable ARC to extend high-bandwidth services quickly and efficiently to customers who don't yet have a fiber optic connection,'' said Jim Dunn, CEO of AirFiber, Inc. ``ARC is an ideal carrier for the OptiMesh network because ARC is executing a strategy of delivering a suite of high-bandwidth communications services to its customers. Now, ARC will have a fast, inexpensive way to span the weakest link of the network -- the 'last mile' or access into their customer's buildings.''
``We have investigated a number of the emerging free-space optics communications suppliers, and we are convinced that this is an important, viable technology,'' said Dr. John Davis, ARC's chief technology officer. ``We expect the AirFiber trial will provide valuable information on how best to apply this technology to attack the local access bottleneck.''
Upon the successful completion of the trials, ARC will consider incorporating OptiMesh as a part of the multi-technology communications network that it designs, constructs, owns and currently operates inside investment-grade office buildings in major metropolitan areas across the United States.
About AirFiber
San Diego-based AirFiber is a telecommunications equipment supplier of wireless optical networks that provide high-bandwidth access to urban buildings for voice, data and multimedia services. The company's flagship product, OptiMesh(TM), is a reliable, quickly deployed and cost-effective access solution for carriers worldwide. Founded in 1998, AirFiber, Inc. is a privately held company. For more information, visit the Web site at www.airfiber.com.
About Allied Riser Communications
ARC provides very high speed, IP-based, ``first-mile'' communications services to small and medium-sized businesses in major metropolitan areas in the United States. ARC delivers services over fiber-optic networks that it designs, constructs, owns and operates inside commercial office buildings. Over this infrastructure, ARC offers ultra high-speed Internet access, enhanced conference calling services, and other high bandwidth data services and applications. ARC's Internet access services provide a direct ``always-on'' connection to the Internet at speeds more than six times faster than T-1 and DSL lines and up to 175 times faster than standard dial-up service. For more information about ARC, visit the company's web site at www.arcbroadband.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding overall market demand for market acceptance of the Company's services, the intention to deploy fiber-optic networks in additional buildings or markets and the timing and breadth of penetration in each building or market. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the intense competition for the Company's service offerings, dependence on growth in demand for the Company's services, ability to manage growth of our operations, the ability to raise additional capital and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.
SOURCE: Allied Riser Communications Corporation and AirFiber, Inc. |
