Williams Communications Significantly Expands
Fiber-Optic Capacity on Key Network Route; Williams
Deploying New Dense Fiber Count Cables on Houston
to Atlanta To Washington D.C. Routes
TULSA, Okla., March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Tremendous demand for capacity and fiber-optics from the central U.S. to the east
coast has led the network unit of Williams Communications (NYSE: WCG - news), an international provider of telecommunications
services and products for the carrier marketplace, to deploy additional dense fiber count cables in spare conduits from Houston to
Atlanta to Washington, D.C.
Williams, which has the largest next-generation fiber-optic network in the nation, will more than double its network fiber count
through deployment of new high-density fiber cables on its longest network segment, an 1,800-mile route that runs alongside one of
its interstate natural gas pipelines. The project scope also includes additional buildings and power upgrades to support the new
cables. Deployment is planned for completion within a year.
In 1985, Williams, which has gas, energy and telecommunications businesses, was the first company to utilize its gas pipeline assets
to develop a telecommunications network. The highly secure placement of its network coupled with the company's long history in
quality construction and communications has led to strong demand for capacity and services on the Williams Multi-Service
Broadband Network(TM).
``When we began construction of our network in 1998, the projections for bandwidth demand clearly supported the success of our
business model and our focus on the carriers market,' said Frank Semple, president of the Williams network. ``What has been
surprising is the incredible pace of that demand which has exceeded even the most optimistic projections. The Houston to Atlanta
to Washington D.C. route has been one of the highest-traffic telecommunications corridors in the country and these new cables
enable us to leverage our existing infrastructure to address demand, thereby creating additional revenue opportunities for Williams.'
Williams' network construction has been substantially funded through the long-term leasing of individual fibers on its high-density
network to facilities-based carriers; meanwhile Williams has retained a core fiber count to support its own network capacity and
services customers. These customers include major telecommunications carriers such as SBC Communications, Telefonos de
Mexico and Intel Corporation.
Williams Communications' network currently has more than 26,000 route miles of fiber deployed, 24,000 route miles lit and a
planned total of 33,000 route miles connecting 125 cities by the end of this year. Ninety-six to 144 fibers are typically installed in
every Williams network build with multiple conduits, leaving open conduits to meet future needs. The fully integrated architecture
of the Williams Multi-Service Broadband Network(TM) couples ATM core switching with advanced optical networking
technologies to provide carriers with data, voice, video and Internet services. Williams Communications has earned widespread
industry recognition for its network architecture -- most recently the International Engineering Consortium's InfoVision award. |
