Verizon's New High-Fiber 'Diet' for Colonie, N.Y.: Blazing-Fast Data, Crystal-Clear Voice, Video Capability

COLONIE, N.Y. -- Verizon is bringing to this Albany County town one of the most significant advancements in telecommunications technology in the past 100 years.

The company today announced plans to build a fiber-optic network that will deliver faster data speeds and crystal-clear voice to residence and business customers here - and also has the capability to offer a full suite of future video services. The company will seek a franchise agreement from the local authority before offering cable service in a particular community.

"In a world where success often hinges on the fast delivery of information and services, it's exciting to learn that Colonie will be part of Verizon's all-fiber network," said Town Supervisor Mary Brizzell. "This high-speed, high-capacity network will benefit Colonie residents and businesses alike with ultra-fast Internet connections and other services in the future."

Known as fiber-to-the-premises, or FTTP, the fiber-optic network uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to directly link homes and businesses to Verizon's network. The state-of-the-art network upgrade will unleash a range of advanced communication services.

The company announced earlier this year that it was deploying its all-fiber network in the Albany County community of Delmar. The company also has announced it is rolling out the network in several communities in the Syracuse area, as well as in Westchester and Rockland counties and on Long Island.

"We are building the communications network of the future to provide customers unmatched network reliability, incredible speed and exciting new options for voice, data and video connections," said Paul A. Crotty, Verizon New York/Connecticut president. "Our FTTP project will help stimulate economic development and enhance these communities as great places to live and do business."

Although the use of fiber optics is common for long-distance and inter-city communications throughout the telecommunications industry, Verizon is one of the first major telecom companies to begin using it to directly connect homes and businesses to the network on a widespread scale.

Verizon is already building its FTTP network in half the states where the company offers landline communications services. To help build the network across the country, Verizon will hire between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees by the end of this year, including hundreds in New York.

"The availability of a world-class technology infrastructure is critical in a global competition to attract new businesses and retain existing firms," said Lyn Taylor, president of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. "Verizon's decision to make this level of investment speaks volumes about the company's commitment to support and enhance the Tech Valley initiative."

Fiber offers tremendous advantages to network operators, in addition to new and superior services for customers. For example, fiber offers reliable service in stretches of wet weather that can affect copper-based networks and coaxial cable systems.

"Verizon's fully fiber-optic network is technically superior to other communication platforms because it offers faster data speeds than those currently available, as well as voice and video capability," said Joseph DeMauro, Verizon market area president for upstate New York. "Our fiber engineering creates a network that requires less day-to-day maintenance and allows for proactive and even faster repairs."

Customer reaction to Verizon's new fiber-based Internet access service, called FiOS (FYE'-ose), has been very positive, with broadband subscribers more than doubling in the company's inaugural FiOS market of Keller, Texas, just outside Dallas/Fort Worth. Verizon will notify customers when FiOS is available locally.

"FiOS has been an extraordinary hit with our first customers. People are literally lining up to get what they know is a fantastic and even more reliable service at an excellent price," said DeMauro. "The need for speed and ability to take advantage of bandwidth-intensive applications remain a top priority for all computer users."

There are three tiers of Verizon FiOS Internet Service for consumers, with downstream (download) speeds of up to 5, 15 and 30 Mbps (megabits per second).*

• Up to 5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Suited for Internet surfing and basic computer functions. $34.95 a month as part of a calling package, or $39.95 a month stand-alone.

• Up to 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Appealing to families that have multiple computers and various needs such as media downloads and the ability to access or share large files. $44.95 a month as part of a calling package, or $49.95 a month stand-alone.

• Up to 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream. Designed for communications-intensive power users with significant bandwidth needs, such as telecommuters or work-at-home households and avid online gamers. $179.95 a month as part of a calling package, or $199.95 a month stand-alone.

The FTTP initiative represents a natural extension of the more than 10 million miles of fiber-optic cable Verizon already has in place and extends the high capacity, speed and quality of fiber directly to the customer's doorstep. With FTTP technology, Verizon can easily add more capacity, higher speeds or future video services.

Verizon's digital subscriber line (DSL) service will remain the company's most widely available form of high-speed Internet access for the foreseeable future, while the company ramps up FTTP deployment. The company offers DSL on a widespread basis in New York.

*NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of 212,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom provides customers based in 28 states with wireline and other telecommunications services, including broadband. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 45.5 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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