Lightower Fiber Networks Completes Open Access Inc Acquisition.

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
BOXBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lightower Fiber Networks, a leading metro fiber network and bandwidth service provider, announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Open Access Inc., a provider of diverse, cost-effective, customized end-to-end communications solutions, based in Farmingdale, NY.
With the acquisition of Open Access, Lightower expands its network and customer base throughout Long Island and the greater New York City region. This expansion adds backbone fiber to Lightower’s already dense Long Island network and also adds access to over 230 commercial buildings and data centers throughout the region.

“We are very pleased to complete the acquisition of Open Access and integrate it into our growing fiber network in the Northeast,” said Rob Shanahan, CEO of Lightower. “Open Access customers will see immediate benefits including access to the entire Lightower Network and our entire suite of services.”

The merger of the two networks supports Lightower’s mission of owning and operating a dense, next-generation fiber network that provides a complete portfolio of high-bandwidth services utilizing end-to-end fiber connectivity. The combined network increases Lightower’s last-mile fiber access into commercial buildings across Long Island.

“The completion of this acquisition strengthens our position in this very important market,” added Shanahan. “Demand for our end-to-end fiber connectivity continues to grow, and we see great potential for expanding our customer base and market share throughout Long Island and the greater New York City region.”

Lightower’s current network is comprised of over 5,800 fiber route miles and provides access to over 2,300 commercial buildings, data centers, telco hotels, and other critical interconnection facilities. Lightower’s footprint extends throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, including Long Island and New York City. In addition, Lightower offers nationwide long haul services to Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
All Open Access customers will benefit by gaining access to the complete suite of Lightower services and all Lightower service locations. Lightower’s networking services include Ethernet, dark fiber, SONET, wavelengths, Internet access, and collocation. Lightower customers will gain access to Open Access’s on-net commercial buildings as well as connectivity into additional interconnectivity facilities.
Lightower Fiber Networks is backed by M/C Venture Partners, Pamlico Capital, and Ridgemont Equity Partners. In 2007, M/C Venture Partners and Pamlico Capital together acquired Lightower. In 2008, Lightower acquired DataNet Communications and KeySpan Communications. In 2010, Lightower acquired Veroxity Technology Partners and Lexent Metro Connect. Earlier in 2011, Lightower signed an exclusive network agreement with NSTAR Communications, which further enhanced the reach and density of Lightower’s all-fiber network in downtown Boston and in the surrounding greater Boston area.

About Lightower Fiber Networks
Lightower Fiber Networks is a leading fiber network and broadband service provider in the Northeast, offering over 5,800 fiber route miles coupled with comprehensive transport, alternative access, and nationwide long haul services. Lightower’s fiber footprint extends from New England, to eastern New York State, northern New Jersey, Long Island, and New York City. With access to over 2,300 buildings, Lightower offers unparalleled regional density, performance, scalability, security, and reliability in the Northeast. Lightower Fiber is headquartered in Boxborough, MA. For more information, visit www.lightower.com or call 888-LT-FIBER.

Contacts

For Lightower Fiber Networks
Travis Small, 617-391-9654
tsmall@rasky.com

Will Google Phone Android find a Home in Open Wireless Spectrum?

According WSJ, insiders have informed the Journal that Google is planing to go at the auction alone which would attract offers estimated to be higher than 4.5 Billion Dollars. So the Google Phone, or Android as it is operating system is known now might find it's own home, unlike iPhone.
To cement the facts the Journal also tells us that Google is doing a test run of an advanced wireless network at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters, gaining operating experience that could come in handy if it wins the spectrum and decides to run a full-scale national mobile carrier.
I did not feel such micro waves when drove past Google today.
The authors of the article also wonders if Google is making a mistake by bidding and entering wireless world. Such things as unfamiliar grounds, making enemies out of telecom carriers etc. Perhaps WSJ is forgetting that Google entered a saturated search engine world. But the main thin I remember was the IPO!, Google did not follow the IPO path that WSJ familiar with and also allowed people like me to add Google shares to our portfolios, which otherwise would have gone in the way of big boys only!
Well Naysayers were wrong then and they could be wrong now. I think Google has the capability, the brain share and the capability to attract more, and certainly money even if they have to borrow some. But I hope they would and we might be able to get away from, even a bit, of this Ma Bell mentality when it comes to communication.
A Google spokesman said in a statement that the company would reveal any plans to participate in the auction by then. "In the meantime, we are making all the necessary preparations to become an applicant to bid," he said. "Our goal is to make sure that American consumers have more choices in an open and competitive wireless world," the spokesman added. Well said and we will know on Dec. 3, FCC deadline for declaring an intent to bid.
But the article is enlightening and I thank KEVIN J. DELANEY and AMOL SHARMA for letting me relive the excitement od Google IPO.

Tags: Open Wireless Spectrum, Google Phone, Android, Google IPO, iPhone

iPhone bricking and the need for Open Access

People are suing Apple and AT&T for iBricking their phones and unlawful business practice, but I think they should look at Verizon to bring on the next class action law suite. Verizon vehemently opposes Open Access infrastructure suggested by FCC, which companies like Google supported. This will basically take away the carriers ability to dictate what device we should be using and what should be (Software) on that device. Open access type operations are already available in Europe and Asia, where people chose the devices they need.
Apple on the other hand has made a mess out of otherwise a super tool that is attractive to the mases. It will not take over the communications world but it will have a large portion of the market looking for one. But making it only available for AT&T network may be the undoing. I hope they will come out clean from the lawsuit that AP reports; "Complaints over Apple Inc.'s use restrictions and recent software update for the iPhone have erupted in two lawsuits alleging Apple and its carrier partner, AT&T Inc., engaged in illegal monopolistic behavior.Two separate lawsuits were filed Friday in San Jose — one in federal court and the other in state court and both seeking class-action status.The federal case accuses the companies of unfair business practices and violations of antitrust, telecommunications and warranty laws. The state case raises some of the same allegations.Apple spokeswoman Susan Lundgren and AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel both declined to comment on them Wednesday."

Tags: iPhone, open access, Apple, AT&T, Verizon, iBricking, Google, FCC