Metromedia Fiber to Provide AOL With IP Network Capabilities

Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN)ine Inc. (AOL; Dulles, VA) has chosen <%=company%> (MFN; New York) and its subsidiary AboveNet to provide AOL with IP network infrastructure capabilities. AOL has also completed an agreement with AboveNet to provide co-location services and to be one of AOL's Internet transit providers.

AOL will be adding additional dark fiber to its metropolitan area network in the Washington, D.C. area and will also acquire high-capacity (OC48) optical network infrastructure between New York and Washington, D.C. and dark fiber in the New York and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Some of the fiber will be deployed directly into AboveNet's Washington, D.C. Internet Service Exchange (ISX) facility where AOL is co-locating part of its network to take advantage of AboveNet's Internet connectivity for increased network control and expansion.

MFN is deploying optical IP architecture over a dedicated fiber optic network that reaches throughout the local loop in 67 cities in North America and Europe. The combination of an 29,000 route-mile end-to-end network, with up to multi-terabit per second capacity, will allow companies like AOL to increase the capacity of their communications networks. AOL will benefit from an alternative local loop strategy by continuing to offer its members the best possible online performance as well as the ability to rapidly increase bandwidth needed to receive video, audio, and other data-rich applications.

Edited by Kristin Keiser