OMAHA, NE (April 3, 1997) --
MFS Network Technologies, a subsidiary of WorldCom, Inc., announced
today at a ground breaking ceremony that construction is beginning
for a digital, fiber optic communications network along the New York
State Thruway. Construction is expected to be completed in the fourth
quarter of 1997.
MFS Network Technologies will design, integrate and operate the
fiber optic communications system which will parallel 542 miles of
the Thruway Authority's 641-mile superhighway system. The network
will deliver enhanced fiber optic capabilities reaching from
Manhattan, to White Plains and Albany, then across the state of New
York, and connecting with routes through to Cleveland, Ohio. The
project scope includes construction of a communications conduit
system and delivery of a fiber optic network supporting high-speed
digital voice, data and videocommunications.
"We are extremely pleased that the New York State Thruway
Authority selected us as its partner for this innovative
co-development effort," said MFS Network Technologies President
and CEO Kevin P. Moersch. "This project is a prime example of
how proactive and innovative public agencies can leverage their
Rights-Of-Way to provide enhanced services to the public."
Under the innovative agreement, revenues to support the project
aregenerated by leasing excess fiber optic and conduit capacity
tocommunications companies and/or large end users. MFS Network
Technologies has, and will market such lease agreements
tolocal-exchange carriers, interexchange carriers,
competitive-accessproviders, cable-television operators, paging and
cellular/personalcommunications providers, and, in the future, will
also market capacityto advanced traveler information service
providers. When completed, the communications system will have a
total value well over $100 million.Lease income will be shared with
the New York State Thruway Authority to provide an ongoing source of
revenue. Some of the diverse system users that are taking part in
this venture include, Intermedia Communications Inc., IXC Carrier,
Inc. and fONOROLA.
"This creative public-partnership will meet the Thruway's
communications needs, as well as help provide
telecommunicationsinfrastructure for the entire state," said
Authority Chairman Howard E.Steinberg. "We're pleased to
help the state assist businesses and stayin the forefront of the
latest technology."
In addition to basic communications services, the New York
StateThruway network will have the installed capacity and platform
for avariety of Intelligent Transportation Systems applications,
ranging fromenhanced Electronic Toll and Traffic Management (ETTM),
to advancedvehicle-to-roadside communications applications such as
travelerinformation services.
MFS Network Technologies is a leader in the development, design
andintegration of intelligent infrastructure solutions for
advancedcommunications and intelligent transportation applications.
Thecompany's clients include federal, state and local government
agencies,telecommunications services companies, regional and state
transportation and transit agencies, public utilities and private
industry in the U.S. and abroad.
WorldCom is a global business telecommunications company.
Operating in more than 50 countries, the company is a premier
provider offacilities-based and fully integrated local, long
distance, international and Internet services. WorldCom subsidiary,
UUNET Technologies, Inc., is the world's largest provider of
Internet services. WorldCom's World Wide Web address is
http://www.wcom.com. The common and depositary shares of WorldCom
trade on the Nasdaq National Market (U.S.) under the symbol WCOM and
WCOMP, respectively.
