Bell Atlantic Deploys Fiber Optics, Electronics, Bringing New Technology, Services to Newton

Bell Atlantic Deploys Fiber Optics, Electronics, Bringing New Technology, Services to Newton

Company Invests $550,000 to Expand, Upgrade Local Telephone Network

May 23, 2000

NEWTON, Mass. -- Bell Atlantic recently installed fiber optic cable, new electronic equipment and copper cable in Newton as part of a $550,000 project to modernize its local telephone network here.

The new equipment also provides increased capacity in Bell Atlantic's telecommunications network to serve the work-at-home market.

"This project reflects Bell Atlantic's commitment to continue expanding and enhancing a state-of-the-art telecommunications network throughout Massachusetts," said Robert Mudge, president of Bell Atlantic - Massachusetts. "We are accelerating our construction schedules to provide rural and urban customers with high-speed access to the Internet, work-at-home capabilities, as well as a host of other innovative advanced services."

Fiber-optic systems use hair-thin glass strands and digital technology to deliver high quality telephone services along with high-capacity/high-speed voice and data services.

The fiber-optic cable extends from Needham Street along Oak and Chestnut Streets to Boylston Street. A new underground equipment vault on Chestnut Street houses the associated electronics which convert digital optical signals to analog and vice versa.

New fiber cable also was placed in the Parker and Dedman Streets area in Newton to add capacity to meet the demand for additional residential phone lines and high-capacity services.

Mudge said Bell Atlantic has made major strides in deploying advanced technology in its network:

* Investment in the Massachusetts network totals $3.3 billion since 1995.

* Miles of fiber-optic cable in the commonwealth increased by 85 percent from 325,000 in 1995 to more than 600,000 in 1999.

* All 274 call-routing centers throughout the state use the latest digital technology systems.

* Bell Atlantic Infospeed^sm DSL(digital subscriber line) service was launched in Massachusetts in April 1999. Infospeed DSL is a high-speed connection to the Internet that enables users to connect to cyberspace at speeds up to 100 times faster than today's fastest analog modems.

"We are proud of our critical role in assuring that Massachusetts continues to have one of the nation's most advanced telecommunications networks," said Mudge. "This infrastructure will help our state, its businesses, schools, and consumers to succeed in the new Millennium."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With more than 44 million telephone access lines and more than 20 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.