GERMANY, Jan. 18, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Carrier1 International S.A. (Neuer Markt:CJN; Nasdaq:CONE) today announced that it has begun lighting its Southern European ring linking key cities in France, Italy and Switzerland.
The Southern European ring originates in Frankfurt and reaches the French cities of Strasbourg, Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and Marseille, the Italian cities of Genoa and Milan and the Swiss cities of Geneva, Basel and Zurich. Some sections of the ring are owned at the duct level and some others at the fibre level, layering investments as close to demand as possible. Fibre investments will migrate to duct levels over the next 12 to 18 months, taking advantage of the evolution in European communications demand and the demand for Carrier1's outsourcing and value-added portfolio of services.
"We are continually developing and enhancing our long distance network to improve reach, quality and unit cost through timely investment in wholly owned fibre networks", said Neil Craven, EVP of Bandwidth and Infrastructure Services. "Carrier1 is bringing advanced infrastructure and its unique outsourcing opportunity to a growing base of large communication users to this southern part of the "European business belt" which covers one of the world's strongest economic regions".
Since the foundation of Carrier1 in 1998, its pan-European infrastructure strategy has been to build as close to business growth as possible, using its capital in the most efficient manner. With a projected revenue base of $420 to $450 million in 2001, Carrier1 is now taking the opportunity to activate its Southern European ring with terabit capacity, expanding its capability into a region where it already has significant demand for data and broadband services.
Metropolitan Ring Update
Carrier1 is strengthening its service offerings to large users of communication services by extending the reach of its City to City network into 20 metropolitan networks. The development of the seven previously announced metropolitan rings in Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rotterdam is on target and an 8th build has been initiated in Zurich.
The Southern European ring will be further enhanced by four of these metropolitan rings located in Frankfurt, Milan, Paris and Zurich.
About Carrier1
Carrier1 International S.A. is a leading European provider of end-to-end Internet, voice, bandwidth, data-center and access solutions to large users of communication services. Carrier1 provides its clients with carrier-grade transport and network solutions as well as end-user ready value added services. Carrier1 customers brand and market these solutions and services to their respective end-users. The Carrier1 pan-European, inter-city fiber network connects 12 countries and currently spans over approximately 14,000 contracted route kilometers, connecting points-of-presence in over 20 European cities. Carrier1 is operational in all 12 countries and has secured all the necessary interconnects and operational licenses that allow it to provide network solutions and end-user-ready, value-added services. Carrier1 has completed 2 metro ring fibre networks and is currently constructing 6 metro ring fibre networks and expanding one existing metro fibre network. Carrier1 plans to build/acquire at least 12 additional city-ring fiber networks. Carrier1 has space available for service in Digiplex data center facilities and in 8 Carrier1 network service areas. These co-location facilities are marketed under the name ClearSpace.
Forward Looking Statements:
The information contained in this press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities Laws. These statements include those relating to: (i) the timing and extent of the implementation of the lighting of our Southern Ring, (ii) the migration and timing thereof of fibre level sections of our Southern network to duct level, (iii) our continued development to improve reach, quality and cost base of our network, (iv) the growing demand for our outsourcing services, (v) our projected revenue for 2001, (vi) the development and timing thereof of our metropolitan rings and the impact thereof on our Southern Ring. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Carrier 1 International S.A., and performance is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, adverse regulatory, technological or competitive developments, decline in demand for the company's services or products, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and services, pressure on pricing resulting from competition, unforeseen construction delays, and failure to receive on a timely basis necessary permits or other governmental approvals, and failure to obtain any necessary financing if management's business plan assumptions are not met, and failure of third parties with whom the Company has contracted including for the supply or maintenance of infrastructure components. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting the company, please refer to the company's prospectus and 10-K,10-Q and 8-K reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 10-K for the year ended 31 December 1999 and its 10-Q for the 3-month period ended 31 March 2000, the 3-month period ended 30 June 2000 and the 3-month period ended September 30, 2000.