Sprint signs multiyear contract with Metromedia Fiber Network for enhanced access to major US markets - Business - Brief Article

Fiber Optics Business, Jan 15, 2002

Sprint announced that it has signed a multiyear contract with Metromedia Fiber Network Inc. (MFN), to lease metropolitan area fiber in major US markets. The agreement fuels Sprint's aggressive plan to quickly connect its award-winning long distance voice, data and PCS networks with a high-bandwidth metropolitan area optical infrastructure. Additionally, the agreement helps put Sprint in control of its access cost structure. Sprint plans to use MFN's fiber optic infrastructure to lower its own local access costs, speed access delivery to customers, and expand the array of services that it can offer to its customers in these markets.

The MFN metropolitan fiber optic network infrastructure leased by Sprint will be located in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, DC. While Sprint will initially use MFN's metropolitan fiber optic infrastructure in these 10 major cities, the company will have the opportunity to expand into other markets inside and outside the US by leasing dark fiber from MFN under terms in this agreement. Sprint expects to begin using MFN networks in initial markets in the second quarter of 2002 and in all 10 cities by the end of 2002.