FirstLight and BayRing Collaborate to Enhance Network Capabilities

ALBANY, NY--(Marketwired - Mar 18, 2014) - FirstLight Fiber, a facilities-based telecommunications service provider operating fiber optic networks in Upstate New York and Northern New England with connectivity to Canada, announced today its relationship with BayRing Communications, a New England-based Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC). BayRing has chosen FirstLight's Metro Ethernet solutions to further extend its network reach, while FirstLight utilizes BayRing's dark fiber network in specific areas to extend its reach. The companies are working together to enhance their respective capabilities within the regional markets they serve in order to better serve businesses throughout New England.

With several hundred miles of fiber optic network spanning Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, BayRing's network design has the capacity to handle large volumes of voice and data due to the redundancy of its self-healing fiber optics. FirstLight, with a network comprised of more than 190,000 fiber miles and 1,400 lit buildings, provides BayRing with Ethernet solutions designed to ensure maximum uptime and performance. BayRing utilizes FirstLight's Ethernet service as a local loop alternative to allow its customers to easily gain high-speed access to Layer 2 Internet and IP VPN. 

"FirstLight has been a proven partner in helping BayRing to maintain a strong, local presence by providing Ethernet circuits in areas that previously had not had many meaningful alternatives for high bandwidth local loops," commented David Gibson, Director of Business Development at BayRing Communications. "Through our relationship with FirstLight, we gain access to their extensive fiber-based solutions throughout portions of Northern New England not currently lit with BayRing fiber, which allows us to provide a technologically superior product to our clients." 

With multiple classes of service (CoS), FirstLight's Metro Ethernet service supports BayRing's rigorous voice and data requirements, while offering the flexibility BayRing needs as their clients' bandwidth requirements increase. FirstLight's Layer 2 service is designed in accordance with Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) standards, guaranteeing a high quality and reliable Ethernet service. FirstLight offers point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and multipoint-to-multipoint connections scalable up to 100 Gbps.

"BayRing operates a highly advanced network throughout New England, and its decision to align with FirstLight, allows BayRing to seamlessly support its customers regardless of where they are located," stated Kurt Van Wagenen, President and CEO of FirstLight. "Together with BayRing, FirstLight looks forward to extending the high quality, fiber-based services that allow business in the Northeast to thrive in the digital age."

To learn more about FirstLight, visit www.firstlight.net, or follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About FirstLight Fiber
FirstLight Fiber, headquartered in Albany, NY, provides fiber optic data, Internet, colocation and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers in Upstate New York and Northern New England with connectivity to Canada utilizing its own fiber optic network, which spans over 190,000 fiber miles connecting in excess of 1,400 lit locations. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products, including dedicated Internet access, Metro Ethernet, traditional TDM solutions, SIP trunks, virtual PBX and audio-conferencing, managed commercial wireless systems, and Data Center Colocation. FirstLight's clientele includes national cellular providers and CLECs and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments. FirstLight is a portfolio company of Boston-based private equity firm Riverside Partners.  

About BayRing Communications

BayRing Communications, based in Portsmouth, NH, is a leading regional Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) servicing clients throughout New England. BayRing's business focus is on delivering enterprise and wholesale services including traditional TDM voice, SIP, Hosted PBX, data and IP services, colocation, and optical transport. BayRing's unique approach to technology and professional services has made it a top choice for enterprise and carrier clients throughout New England. BayRing's 60,000 fiber-mile infrastructure (including over 600+lit buildings) stretches north from Boston, MA through New Hampshire and Maine. To learn more about BayRing Communications, visit www.bayring.com.