Metromedia Fiber Network Expands Relationship With Cisco Systems to Include Managed Optical Networks

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2001

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2001

MFN's WaveChannel Optical Network Offering to Incorporate

DWDM Equipment from Cisco Systems

Metromedia Fiber Network Inc. (MFN) (Nasdaq:MFNX), the leader in the deployment of optical Internet infrastructure within key metropolitan areas domestically and internationally, has expanded its existing relationship with Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO) to include Cisco's DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing) equipment in MFN's WaveChannel9tm) Optical Network solution, starting with the Cisco Metro 1500 Series.

Under this relationship, MFN's WaveChannel customers will be offered a choice in technology for their dedicated fiber-optic and DWDM networks. Through WaveChannel, MFN offers enterprise customers the industry's only fully private and dedicated "wavelength to the door" solution. It combines all the advantages of a building-to-building, dedicated fiber-optic network with unshared DWDM equipment that is fully integrated and managed by MFN.

"MFN continues to drive intelligence to the network's edge, making the optical Internet a reality," said Nick Tanzi, president and chief operating officer of Metromedia Fiber Network. "By integrating DWDM technology from Cisco with our fiber-optic infrastructure, we can deliver end-to-end optical networking capabilities that are ideally suited to meet the needs of today's fast-growing data-centric corporations."

WaveChannel expands the ability of MFN's dark fiber customers to deploy advanced applications, such as storage area networks (SAN), data mirroring, disaster recovery, data warehousing and sophisticated high-resolution video networks. It allows enterprises to send data via protocols such as IP, Gigabit Ethernet, ESCON, HDTV, Fibre Channel, SONET and ATM directly and simultaneously over the same dark-fiber network. Since it is fully managed and sold by the wavelength, WaveChannel eliminates up-front capital expenditures and ongoing maintenance costs, while providing customers with the security and flexibility of their own private optical network.

The Cisco Metro 1500 is a protocol-independent DWDM solution that supports 32 wavelengths per fiber pair. The combination of MFN's WaveChannel service and Cisco's DWDM technology will enable enterprise customers to expand the distance and application capabilities of existing local and metropolitan area networks, and storage networks, while addressing the need to move large amounts of data, voice and video quickly, transparently and inexpensively. Customers will be able to build serverless offices and virtual data centers across metropolitan distances that are cost-effective and easily provisioned.

"The relationship between Cisco and MFN offers access to a well-managed DWDM infrastructure that can integrate existing solutions for today's needs and grow for future data, storage, video and voice networking needs," said Carl Engineer, director of Marketing for the Metropolitan Services Business Unit at Cisco. "Given DWDM's ability to efficiently harness the high capacity that optical networking provides, our mutual customers will enjoy a new level of flexibility and cost savings in their networks."

About Metromedia Fiber Network Inc.

Metromedia Fiber Network Inc., the leading provider of end-to-end optical network solutions, is revolutionizing the fiber-optic industry. 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. Metromedia Fiber Network is extending metropolitan fiber-optic infrastructure to the end-user in strategic top-tier markets, enabling its customers to implement the latest data, video, Internet and multimedia applications. In addition to its current expansion in 51 cities in North America, Metromedia Fiber Network is establishing an international presence with planned fiber-optic network builds in 16 cities throughout Europe. For more information about Metromedia Fiber Network, please visit the company's Web site at www.mmfn.com.

Together with its subsidiaries, AboveNet Communications Inc., a leading provider of Internet connectivity and co-location solutions for high-bandwidth and business-critical applications, and PAIX.net Inc., the leading neutral Internet exchange, Metromedia Fiber Network is unleashing the full potential of the Internet. The combined company facilitates the explosive growth of e-commerce and advanced Internet applications by delivering secure, reliable and scaleable optical networks and IP services to Internet content and service providers, carriers and enterprise users worldwide.

AboveNet is the architect of the Internet Service Exchange (ISX), a world-class network that provides co-location services and Internet connectivity for content providers, ISPs and application service providers. With its Tier 1 status and ISO 9002 certification, AboveNet is seeking to serve the global community of the Internet. For more information on AboveNet's service offering call 800/475-2733 or visit the company's Web site at www.above.net.