Metromedia Fiber Network Integrates Dark Fiber with Cisco Switching Technology to Launch Metropolitan Gigabit-Ethernet Solution
Metro Gig-E Offering Enables Enterprise Customers to Extend Corporate LAN Connectivity Throughout Major Metropolitan Areas
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 1999-- Leveraging the power of fiber optics with today's Ethernet technology, Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: MFNX) has launched Metro Gig-E(TM) Optical Network - a Gigabit-Ethernet transport solution that enables enterprise users to cost-effectively extend the capacity and reach of their Local Area Networks (LANs) throughout major metropolitan markets.
Metro Gig-E(TM) is the result of a strategic technical alliance between Metromedia Fiber Network and Cisco Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: CSCO) that combines Metromedia Fiber Network's dedicated dark fiber infrastructure with Cisco's Catalyst optical switch technology. The result is an integrated product offering that eliminates the "bandwidth barrier" between LAN sites, enabling enterprise users to quickly extend these LANs into private, unshared Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs). By deploying Metro Gig-E(TM), enterprise users are provided with the high-capacity optical infrastructure to transmit next generation video, data and multimedia among multiple sites, creating a virtual campus networking environment.
"Today's enterprise customers have a tremendous need to share vast amounts of information between office locations. Unfortunately, the cost and underlying technology of traditional services only allow information to trickle through," said Howard Finkelstein, president of Metromedia Fiber Network. "Metro Gig-E(TM) is a truly unique network solution that eliminates this problem. By integrating our extensive dark fiber infrastructure with Cisco's leading optical switching technology, data-centric organizations can now deploy a low-cost, turnkey optical network for high-speed interconnections among metropolitan area facilities."
Unlike shared networks that aggregate traffic from multiple customers at a central point, Metro Gig-E(TM) is truly private, secure and reliable, eliminating the need for firewalls, as the network is segregated from all public traffic and facilities. With capacity requirements for desktop and server applications growing at an exponential rate, Metro Gig-E(TM) guarantees a throughput rate of up to 1000 Mbps, giving customers the flexibility and scalability needed to quickly and cost-effectively increase bandwidth capacity as they need it. By using standard Ethernet protocols, Metro Gig-E(TM) eliminates the need for other costly protocol conversions and avoids the technical complexities associated with deploying ATM or SONET.
Metromedia Fiber Network will provide complete network planning, engineering, installation, and management services, including 24 X 7 monitoring and performance reporting for the Metro Gig-E(TM) product.
"Our relationship with Metromedia Fiber Network will enable dark fiber customers to access a high level of network interoperability and performance, and advanced New World services such as integrated high-speed data distribution, Internet access, voice and video streaming," said Graeme Fraser, Cisco vice president of the Optical Internetworking business unit. "With a certified Cisco Powered Network, enterprise customers can be confident they are receiving an industry-leading network service which is built on Cisco's high-performance, reliable, and secure components."
About Metromedia Fiber Network
Metromedia Fiber Network is building metropolitan fiber optic infrastructure in the local loop in strategic Tier One markets, enabling technologically sophisticated organizations to implement the latest data, video, Internet and multimedia applications. By offering virtually unlimited, unmetered bandwidth at a fixed cost, Metromedia Fiber Network is eliminating the bandwidth barrier and redefining the way broadband capacity is sold. . In addition to its current nationwide expansion in 12 major North American cities, Metromedia Fiber Network is entering the international market with fiber optic network builds in Germany, the UK and Holland.
Metromedia Fiber Network recently acquired AboveNet Communications, the architect of the global one-hop network and a leading provider of Internet connectivity and co-location solutions for high-bandwidth and business critical applications. The combined company will facilitate the explosive growth of e-commerce and advanced Internet applications by delivering secure, reliable and scaleable optical networks to Internet content and service providers, carriers and enterprise users, worldwide. For more information about Metromedia Fiber Network, please visit the company's Web site at mmfn.com.
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the Company's control. This also includes such factors as described from time to time in the SEC filings by Metromedia Fiber Network, including the most recently filed Forms S-4, 10-K and10-Q.
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Contact:
For Metromedia Fiber Network
Media Relations
Gibbs & Soell, Inc., New York
Gary J. Gatyas, Jr.
212/697-2600
ggatyas@gibbs-soell.com
or
Investor Relations
Metromedia Fiber Network, New York
Ellen Strahs Fader
212/606-4389
efader@metromediacompany.com |
