May 18, 2005 Milwaukee, WI -- Norlight Telecommunications has announced that it is expanding its 3,800-mile network by activating optical fibers along the central Illinois corridor, in order to improve telecommunications access and reliability for its wholesale customers.

"This particular network expansion is being undertaken in response to existing customer demand, and demonstrates Norlight's customer-focused approach toward movement into other regions to better serve our wholesale customers," remarks Jim Ditter, president of Norlight. "This is a natural progression for Norlight, following the network upgrade recently completed between Davenport, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois." "

According to a press release, the network expansion will establish points-of-presence in the cities of Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign, and Danville, Illinois. Completion of the the 347-mile network expansion is scheduled for fourth quarter of 2005.

"We believe our ability to provide redundant, regional distribution is especially appealing to wholesale carriers," continues Ditter. "This regional penetration into central Illinois will emphasize local distribution in order to take our wholesale customers closer to their customers."

"Currently, Norlight operates an extensive network utilizing a combination of DWDM and SONET technologies to deliver bandwidth solutions up to OC-192 or 10-Gigabit Ethernet services, at more than 55 points-of-presence," concludes Bob Rogers, senior vice president for Norlight. "By extending our reach to yet another important region, second and third tier cities in Central Illinois will soon have access to cost-effective, protected traffic distribution."