June 10, 2005 Las Vegas, NV -- Mpower Communications, an operating subsidiary of Mpower Holding Corp., a provider of data and voice services to retail and wholesale business customers, has announced that it is expanding its facilities-based network with the acquisition of a metro fiber network in Las Vegas from Idacomm, the communications subsidiary of Idacorp.

According to a press release, the 141-route mile fiber network will have three fully survivable rings, which will connect Mpower's switch and the majority of its collocation facilities in Las Vegas with a fully-redundant core network architecture. The network is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2006.

According to Mpower, the acquisition, in conjunction with its broadband fixed wireless network, will enable end-to-end network connectivity, including dedicated backbone transport and direct last mile connections to it customers.

"This Las Vegas fiber backbone complements our California fiber network and will give us substantial fiber assets in our largest markets," remarks Mpower Communications chairman and CEO Rolla P. Huff. "With this network in place, we expect lower transport costs, enhanced network quality, speed-to-market with new products, shorter provisioning intervals and extended reach. We also gain greater flexibility and more control over the connections to our customers without relying on the ILEC. Importantly, we are able to acquire this fiber network within our existing capital expenditure guidance."

According to the release, in addition to supporting the provider's full range of IP-based and traditional voice and data products and services, the fiber network is expected to open business opportunities as it will pass through the city's key business centers and create wholesale opportunities for the provider's private line offering.