WAYNESBORO, Va.– May 6, 2015 –Lumos Networks Corp. (“Lumos Networks” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LMOS), a leading fiber-based provider of data, voice and IP-based telecommunication services in the Mid-Atlantic region, today introduced a dark fiber product offering to meet the growing demand for high-capacity, customizable network connectivity for FTTC (both small cell and macro sites), large enterprises and data centers.
The Lumos Dark Fiber offering will provide connectivity for both wireless backhaul to macro sites and fronthaul for small cell sites. Dark Fiber provides the scalability and speed capabilities that wireless carriers require for small cell roll-outs, a rapidly growing trend as wireless carriers seek to expand the coverage and density of their mobile networks. Wireless backhaul provides connectivity between a macro cell site and a mobile switching center while fronthaul links a small cell and the macro site. The Lumos Dark Fiber solution will provide connectivity for both examples.
“National and regional wireless carriers already trust us with their FTTC backhaul needs so extending our services to support new applications in this area is a natural fit. Our Dark Fiber solution offers the right combination of high-bandwidth, low-latency backhaul and fronthaul necessary to manage their rapidly growing bandwidth needs,” said Craig Drinkhall, Lumos Networks’ Chief Technology Officer.
Joseph E. McCourt, Chief Revenue Officer at Lumos said, “The release of our dark fiber product comes at a very opportune time. Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of dark fiber RFPs for macro FTTC deals, small cells, and large Enterprise opportunities, particularly within the Education and Healthcare verticals. We expect to sign Enterprise dark fiber contracts in 2015 within our fiber expansion markets in Richmond, Norfolk and the rest of the Tidewater area.”
“Our Dark Fiber solution is also well suited for our large enterprise and data center customers who need to maximize control over their connectivity needs and demand a high-bandwidth, private network they can fully customize,” added Mr. Drinkhall. “Dark Fiber increases a customer’s control over all key aspects of network connectivity: design, capacity, latency, security, management and cost.”
Mr. Drinkhall continued, “The Dark Fiber product leverages Lumos’ extensive fiber assets and deep experience constructing new fiber networks. Our fiber network currently has nearly 8,000 fiber route miles with an average density of approximately 46 strands, and we expect both metrics to increase as we continue to aggressively expand our fiber footprint. With these assets and our ongoing focus on increasing our fiber footprint, we are well poised to meet the dark fiber needs of our FTTC, enterprise and data center customers,” Mr. Drinkhall said.
