New network offering

 

TIDMFCOM 
 
RNS Number : 4208A 
First Communications, Inc. 
07 October 2009 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Communications deploys Alcatel-Lucent next-generation optical transport 
solution as part of new high-capacity, low latency network from Chicago to New 
Jersey 
 
 
Akron, Ohio and Murray Hill, N.J., October 7, 2009 - Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext 
and NYSE: ALU) and First Communications today announced the successful 
deployment of Alcatel-Lucent's advanced multi-reach dense wavelength division 
multiplexing (DWDM) platform for First Communications' new high-capacity, low 
latency network between Chicago and Newark/New York City. 
 
 
Upgradeable to 40Gbit/s, the new network is running 1G to 10G services today 
expanding First Communications' reach to transport customers in New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois via 14 cities including Chicago, Cleveland, 
Akron, Pittsburgh, Reading, Morristown, and Newark.  First Communications plans 
to expand the transport services over more of its metro and long-haul fiber 
network spanning 4,500 route miles based on customer demand. Targets include 
upstate New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., 
Ashburn, Va. and east coast connectivity such as the Trans-Atlantic crossings on 
the New Jersey coast. 
 
 
"The completion of this initial network deployment is a key milestone in our 
strategy to leverage the network assets obtained with the First Telecom Services 
acquisition in 2008. This event represents our continued commitment to the 
investment in infrastructure that will enable First Communications to provide 
quality service to our enterprise and carrier customers," said Ray Hexamer, 
Chief Executive Officer of First Communications. 
 
 
The Alcatel-Lucent optical transport solution enables First Communications to 
carry voice, data and video traffic over a single platform to cost-effectively 
address customer demand for advanced business applications such as financial and 
trading exchange connectivity, data center connectivity, research or education 
infrastructure, video applications, and carrier or regional service provider 
networks. 
 
"Over the past decade, First Communications has built a highly scalable 
telecommunications platform, fiber-based infrastructure and support system, 
which represents a combination of world-class technology, and cutting edge 
product offerings," said Walt Paskowski, Vice President of Sales for Vertical 
Markets in Alcatel-Lucent's North America region. "Our optical networking 
solution will help First Communications meet the growing demand for its services 
as it continues to expand and grow." 
 
 
About the Alcatel-Lucent solution 
The Alcatel-Lucent solution is based on its 1626 Light Manager addressing 
operators' demands for increased capacity, flexibility and manageability to 
support a faster time-to-market for a new breed of blended Internet, video and 
triple play services. Meeting operators' requirements for bandwith scaling 
seamlessly, the 1626 LM provides a unique fully-tunable and reconfigurable 
optical add-drop multiplex architecture, enabling operators to design, plan and 
operate their networks with dramatically enhanced agility. 
 
 
About First Communications 
First Communications is a leading integrated telecommunications carrier based in 
the Midwestern United States. Founded in 1998, First Communications has built a 
highly reliable fiber-based infrastructure which it uses to provide small and 
medium business, enterprise, and carrier customers superior voice, internet, and 
transport services. First Communications' mission is to provide secure and 
reliable next-generation services that support the critical communications needs 
of its commercial customers.  For more information visit First Communications on 
the Internet:  http://www.firstcomm.com 
 
 
About Alcatel-Lucent 
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service 
providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver 
voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, 
mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and 
services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific 
expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the 
communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most 
experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a 
local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 
16.98 billion in 2008 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices 
located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: 
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Communications Press Contacts 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
| Colleen Gallagher              | Tel : [phone] | [e-mail]             | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
| Jay Martin                     | Tel: [phone]  | [e-mail]                | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
 
 
Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Peter Benedict                 | Tel: + 33 (0)1 40  | [e-mail]        | 
|                                | 76 50 84           |                                     | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
|  Denise Panyik-Dale            | Tel :+ 1           | [e-mail]      | 
|                                | 908-582-4897       |                                     | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
 
Alcatel-Lucent Investor Relations 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
| Rémi Thomas                    | Tel: + 33 (0)1 40  | [e-mail]       | 
|                                | 76 50 61           |                                      | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
| Tom Bevilacqua                 | Tel: + 1           | [e-mail]        | 
|                                | 908-582-7998       |                                      | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
| Tony Lucido                    | Tel: + 33 (0)1 40  | [e-mail]           | 
|                                | 76 49 80           |                                      | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
| Don Sweeney                    | Tel: + 1 908 582   | [e-mail]          | 
|                                | 6153               |                                      | 
+--------------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------------------+ 
 
 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
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