Verizon Business' Global IP Network Ranks No. 1 as Most-Connected Public Internet Network for Ninth Consecutive Year

BASKING RIDGE - The Verizon Business global IP network has been recognized for the ninth consecutive year as the most-connected Internet backbone network by TeleGeography, a research division of PriMetrica Inc. In its annual "Global Internet Geography Database and Report," TeleGeography declared the Verizon Business global IP network continues to serve the Internet with the greatest number of autonomous system (AS) network connections of any public IP network in the world.

"Since TeleGeography began tracking AS connectivity in 1999, Verizon Business and its predecessor companies have ranked first every year," said Alan Mauldin, TeleGeography research director.  "The autonomous system ranking is a measure of the connectedness of an IP network to the rest of the public Internet. While all networks can reach each other on the Internet, the AS ranking demonstrates the closeness of a network to the rest of the Internet, as in the number of 'hops' (segments on network route) data must take to reach its destination."

The Verizon Business expansive IP footprint and direct interconnections enable its customers to reach more destinations directly through its global IP network than any another service provider.  These leading global network capabilities, backed by more than 32,000 Verizon Business employees worldwide, allow Verizon Business to guarantee its customers the industry's highest levels of service.

"Our No. 1 ranking illustrates Verizon Business' role in delivering critical IP traffic for our customers and the entire Internet community worldwide," said Fred Briggs, Verizon Business executive vice president of operations and technology. "Our customers depend on our global IP network to be accessible everywhere they need it, at any time of the day or night, and to carry large amounts of IP traffic quickly and reliably around the globe."

Verizon Business, the company that pioneered the commercial Internet in 1988 through UUNET and MCI, today has an IP network that spans six continents and includes more than 4,500 IP points of presence throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

As the first company in the industry to offer global service level agreements (SLAs) on a public IP network, Verizon Business introduced guarantees for traffic among key global business centers and set new standards for Internet service around the world. Through the years, Verizon Business has raised the bar on Internet service by increasing its performance threshold. These service level agreements reinforce Verizon Business' commitment to deliver high performance IP-based services and provide additional confidence for businesses evolving their communications to an increasingly IP environment.

Verizon Business participates in more than 65 submarine communications cable systems to help route IP traffic on its global network. Verizon Business is the only U.S. service provider involved in a new submarine cable system being built to open up high-speed direct Internet routes between the United States and China. The new undersea cable, called the Trans-Pacific Express (TPE), will use the latest optical technology to provide greater capacity and higher speeds to meet the dramatic increase in demand for IP, data and voice communications in the Asia-Pacific region. The cable, subject to final regulatory approval for a U.S. landing license, is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2008. TPE will provide an initial capacity of 1.28 terabits per second (Tbps) and will have design capacity of 5.12 Tbps to support future Internet growth.

About TeleGeography
TeleGeography Research, a division of PriMetrica, is a supplier of data-driven telecommunications research, analysis and consulting services to carriers, equipment makers, investors and regulators worldwide. For more information, go to http://www.telegeography.com.

For more information regarding TeleGeography and its 2007 Global Internet Geography Database and Report visit www.telegeography.com/products/gig/index/php

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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