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AboveNet's Transatlantic Network Capacity Now More Than 750 Megabits Per Second
Business Wire - October 06, 1999 03:05
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1999--
As One of the Top Transatlantic IP Network Providers, AboveNet Is
Ready to Provide Superior Internet Connectivity Within Europe
and Between U.S. and Europe
AboveNet Communications Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (Nasdaq:MFNX) and the architect of a global one-hop network that brings together high-bandwidth content sites, ISPs, and Application Service Providers in centralized co-location facilities, today announced that it has increased the capacity of its trans-Atlantic link with the addition of an STM-4 line.
This new line is one of the highest bandwidth IP connections to Europe. When combined with AboveNet's existing STM1 connection, it will bring AboveNet's total connectivity to Europe to more than 0.75 Gbps. With this extra capacity, AboveNet can support the fast growing demand for Internet connectivity between Europe and the United States. It will also provide European Internet users with the same fast, reliable performance that end-users on AboveNet's network in the United States experience.
In addition, AboveNet announced that it has linked its European Internet Service Exchange (ISX) facilities together and they are now part of AboveNet's global one-hop network. To connect its European ISX facilities, AboveNet is using STM-1 lines, which are some of highest capacity lines available in Europe today. These ISX facilities located in London, Frankfurt, and Vienna are now in operation. (See related release today.)
Formed through joint ventures with Internet veterans in each country, these independently managed European ISXs are capable of improving the flow of Internet traffic within their respective countries as well as between them. Today's news reaffirms AboveNet's commitment in extending its network to Europe.
According to Paul Steiner, vice-president International-Europe at AboveNet, the English and German speaking markets served by AboveNet's strategically located European facilities are generating more than half of the current demand for Internet connectivity in Europe. Internet connectivity between these countries and between them and the United States has been hampered by a number of factors including inadequate bandwidth.
"Many networks in Europe are unable to handle high bandwidth applications and surges in Internet traffic," said Steiner. "Those providers bridging the Atlantic are generally using lines that are obsolete before they become operational. AboveNet is addressing Europe's need for reliable and scalable bandwidth by aggressively expanding our network capacity and extending our peering throughout Europe."
AboveNet has taken additional steps to ensure superior Internet performance within Europe. It is aggressively establishing peering relationships with leading European ISPs and network providers. These relationships allow AboveNet to carry content on its network closer to the end user and thereby avoid congestion on the Internet and reduce the number of "hops" that content needs to take to reach its final destination. Within the United Kingdom alone at LINX, the London Internet Exchange, AboveNet has entered into more than 60 peering agreements with all of the major European ISPs and telcos.
AboveNet was recently acquired by Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN), the premier provider of dark fiber in metropolitan areas. MFN, which is expanding into Europe, will play an important role in AboveNet's European expansion plans because dark fiber, which can be used to carry Internet traffic, is not readily available to network providers in Europe.
"We are building a truly global network, extending our leadership in the U.S. and the Asia Pacific region to Europe," said Dave Rand, AboveNet senior vice-president and chief technology officer. "With our strong partnerships and teams in Great Britain, Germany and Austria, our world-class infrastructure, and our access to dark fiber from MFN, AboveNet continues to take the leadership role in Europe."
AboveNet's Global "One-Hop" Network
AboveNet's unique network model enables it to offer one hop connectivity and network performance to its clients. At each of AboveNet's ISX facilities, content and service providers connect to each other in a LAN environment and then directly connect to the rest of the Internet through an extensive network of more than 273 private and public peering agreements with all of the top ISPs and backbone providers worldwide.
This architecture can reduce the multiple network hops information often takes to reach its final destination on the Internet, and can allow AboveNet to keep the information on its network intact until it can be delivered as close as possible to its final destination. The resulting "one-hop" network is highly redundant and is designed to deliver superior network performance.
AboveNet further ensures the performance of its network by providing its clients access to its significant bandwidth, which currently totals over 18.2 Gbps -- the most bandwidth available on-demand at any co-location facility. AboveNet guarantees 100% headroom on its network so that its clients will have the bandwidth they need as they grow.
About AboveNet and Metromedia Fiber Network
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 scalable optical networks to Internet content and service providers, carriers and enterprise users worldwide.
For more information on AboveNet and its service offering call 800/475-2733 or visit the company's Web site at www.above.net. For more information about Metromedia Fiber Network, please visit the company's Web site at www.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.
Note to Editors: AboveNet, Internet Service Exchange, ISX, and AboveNet Global One-Hop Network are trademarks of AboveNet Communications, Inc. All other company or brand names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. |
