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RCN Metro: RCN Metro Optical Networks Upgrades Complete -- Pioneers 10 Gigabit Ethernet at the Edge

^{Published on 2009-09-01 05:22:13 - Market Wire}
 

HERNDON, VA--(Marketwire - September 1, 2009) - [ RCN Metro Optical Networks ], a division of [ RCN Corporation ] (NASDAQ: [ RCNI ]) and a premier provider of fiber optic-based network solutions, announced today that it completed the upgrade of the access layer of its Ethernet network to include 10 Gigabit Metro Ethernet-based transport at several key locations.

The upgrade has further enhanced RCN Metro's already strong network performance and low levels of latency. These enhancements come in direct response to customer demand for increased bandwidth. With the addition of 10 Gigabit Metro Ethernet at the access layer, RCN Metro customers will gain greater scalability, reducing the amount of time needed to increase bandwidth to mere days -- resulting in enhanced network performance.

"While competitors may offer 10 Gigabit service at the access layer, they're still delivering it via costly DWDM or SONET technologies. With this latest upgrade, RCN Metro is pioneering the delivery of 10 Gigabit Metro Ethernet at the access layer," said Felipe Alvarez, President of RCN Metro. "This announcement illustrates RCN Metro's ongoing commitment to continually upgrade our network, ensuring that our customers experience the highest levels of performance and reliability through the most technologically advanced and cost-effective solutions available."

With the upgrade to 10 Gigabit Ethernet at the access layer, RCN Metro is able to eliminate unnecessary propagation, resulting in reduced CPU cycles in the transfer of data from the access layer to the existing 10 Gigabit distribution and core layers. This reduction translates into enhanced network performance and data transport speeds, as well as an overall decrease in network latency.

RCN Metro has already upgraded six key locations from 1 Gigabit to 10 Gigabit and plans to upgrade a number of additional locations in its footprint by the end of the year.

About RCN Metro Optical Networks

RCN Metro, [ http://www.rcnmetro.com ], is a premier provider of high-capacity transport services for carriers as well as large and medium-sized businesses. RCN Metro offers a comprehensive suite of services including: Ethernet, SONET, Wavelength, Video Transport, Internet and more. With a network leveraging unique rights-of-way, spanning from Maine to Virginia and out to Chicago, RCN Metro deploys custom solutions to service providers as well as companies in the finance, hospitality, media, government, health care and education industries. RCN Metro is a wholly owned division of RCN Corporation.

About RCN Corporation

RCN Corporation, (NASDAQ: [ RCNI ]) [ http://www.rcn.com ], is a competitive broadband services provider delivering all-digital and high definition video, high-speed internet and premium voice services to residential and small-medium business customers under the brand names of RCN and RCN Business Services, respectively. In addition, through its RCN Metro Optical Networks business unit, RCN delivers fiber-based high-capacity data transport services to large commercial customers, primarily large enterprises and carriers, targeting the metropolitan central business districts in the company's geographic markets. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago. (RCNI-G)