AboveNet Facilities Now Open in London, Frankfurt and Vienna Will Improve Trans-Atlantic Internet Traffic
AboveNet's European ISX Facilities are Designed, Staffed and Managed Locally
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1999-- AboveNet Communications Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (Nasdaq:MFNX - news) 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 its European Internet Service Exchange (ISX) facilities are open and operating in London, Frankfurt and Vienna.
As announced in a related release today, these ISX facilities are linked together with a high capacity European network backbone. In addition, as part of the AboveNet Global One-Hop Network, they are linked to the U.S. with one of the largest capacity connections provided by any IP network provider.
Independently operated and managed by joint venture partners with extensive Internet experience, AboveNet's European ISX facilities are designed to meet the requirements of their local markets and improve the flow of Internet traffic within Europe and between Europe and the United States.
``With the most powerful Internet connection to Europe and a world-class team, AboveNet is ready to bring U.S.-quality Internet performance to Europe,' said Sherman Tuan, AboveNet CEO. ``Europe is ready for e-commerce and high bandwidth Internet applications and with our partners we intend to provide superior connectivity and co-location facilities at very competitive pricing.'
AboveNet's joint ventures with Internet experts in United Kingdom, Germany and Austria help to ensure that its ISX facilities meet the highest network and facilities standards and the requirements of each local market. AboveNet's ISX facilities are designed, staffed and managed locally, unlike those of some U.S. network providers who ``cookie-cut' new facilities from one location to another.
Commenting on AboveNet's expansion into Europe, Paul Steiner, AboveNet Vice-President International-Europe, said, ``We have developed our partnerships in Europe and built our network and operations in record times -- and on-schedule. Our strong position in the English and German speaking markets will allow us to replicate the successes AboveNet has had in the U.S.'
AboveNet Deutschland
In March, AboveNet partnered with Albrecht Kraas, Michael Schneider and Andreas Schachtner, co-founders of EUNet Germany -- the forerunner of UUNET Germany -- to form AboveNet Deutschland GmbH. Its first ISX facility is now operational and is located in Frankfurt in the same building as DECIX -- Germany's leading Internet network access point.
In August, AboveNet announced that it formed a relationship with Gross & Partners GmbH, a leading real estate developer in Germany, to acquire a 150,000 square foot building in Frankfurt, the major German telecommunications hub. AboveNet also announced that it purchased a more than 85 percent interest in WorldSwitch GmbH, a company located in Frankfurt that will develop and manage advanced carrier and co-location facilities.
``In Germany, as in other parts of Europe, demand for quality Internet performance is growing across the board -- from Web surfers to business-to-business e-commerce users,' said Schneider. ``Now that AboveNet is operational in Frankfurt, as well as London and Vienna, it is well positioned to fuel European Internet growth.'
AboveNet U.K.
AboveNet U.K., which was announced in April, has opened its first ISX facility in London, UK's major telecommunications hub and the transit point of much of Europe's Internet traffic. Ian Taylor, previously Director of Electronic Business for EDS, is the Chief Operating Officer of AboveNet U.K.
The ISX facility is located in the Docklands, the focal point for IP connectivity in the UK. Initial customers include Akamai Technologies. A second facility located next to LINX/Telehouse, the UK's leading network access point, is under construction and will open early next year.
``AboveNet's powerful connection to Europe truly extends the 'one-hop network' globally,' said Taylor, ``allowing us to provide the growing number of European Internet users with superior connectivity and Internet performance. We see tremendous potential for AboveNet in the U.K.'
AboveNet Communications Austria
Also in March, AboveNet partnered with Raiffeisen Rechenzentrum GmbH (RFZ) to form AboveNet Communications GmbH Austria to build a regional ISX in Vienna, Austria. This ISX facility, under the leadership of Karl Hitschmann, Managing Director, is open and a second facility is scheduled to open in Vienna during the third quarter 2000.
``AboveNet is bringing the best connectivity and highest bandwidth capacity to Austria -- one the most advanced Internet markets in Europe', says Hitschmann. ``We are planning to take the leading role in Austria and then use our position as a springboard to expand into Eastern Europe.'
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 scaleable 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.
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.
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. |
