Lumos Networks upgrades in Pennsylvania, Virginia

Mid-Atlantic fiber-optic network services provider Lumos Networks Corp. (NASDAQ:LMOS) says it has launched metro Ethernet service provision in the Richmond, VA, metropolitan market and upgraded its optical transmission infrastructure in western Pennsylvania. The two areas are the focus of the company’s “edge-out” activity in 2013-2014.

Lumos announced its intention to deploy the new capabilities in Richmond this past May (see “Lumos Networks plans 100G connectivity for Richmond metro markets”). The company says it has already won several enterprise and carrier services contracts in metro Richmond. These include an anchor contract win to provide Ethernet services to 10 locations for national hospital provider HCA. The new fiber network is 100G capable and will provide the foundation for expansion to connect Richmond with Ashburn and Charlottesville, VA.

“I am pleased to announce that we have ‘lit’ up service on our 110-mile fiber Ethernet metro ring in Richmond, which is a key part of Lumos’ ‘edge-out’ market strategy to expand our fiber network,” said Joseph E. McCourt, chief revenue officer for Lumos Networks. “Market research information estimates that the annual market for strategic data enterprise spending in the Richmond metropolitan market is about $80 million. We designed and built our network in a very strategic manner in order to access as many key enterprises, data centers, and cell towers as possible. Over time, we expect to be able to leverage our new strategic fiber assets to aggressively pursue fiber-to-the-cell backhaul opportunities in the Richmond market with our existing wireless operator customers.”

In western Pennsylvania, Lumos says it has both upgraded existing infrastructure and laid new fiber-optic cable.

“We are excited to have made headway in upgrading our western Pennsylvania fiber assets over the past few quarters,” noted Craig Drinkhall, vice president of product and engineering at Lumos Networks. “Our fiber assets in the region are now 100G compatible and we have expanded the number of ‘on and off ramps’ on our network to allow for a broader reach of our footprint. Additionally, we have now completed the following key routes from Pittsburgh: 1) to Harrisburg, PA, which opens up the door for significant business opportunities towards the middle of the state; 2) to Ashburn, VA, with its myriad of data center connections.”

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