Verizon Invests $1 Million To Expand New York's North Country Fiber Optics

WATERTOWN, N.Y. - Verizon customers in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties will receive improved, more reliable phone service as the result of a $1 million upgrade and expansion of the company's fiber-optic network in the North Country.

This summer, the company will install about 30 miles of cable containing 96 strands of fiber optics from Ogdensburg through Waddington to Massena. Each fiber strand is capable of carrying thousands of simultaneous voice and data transmissions. When placed end to end, the strands in the new cable will represent more than 2,800 miles of fiber.

By creating a new route for its fiber network through Waddington, Verizon will enhance its SONET technology, which insures service will not be interrupted by extreme weather conditions or accidental fiber cuts in the network. SONET technology allows Verizon to automatically reroute telecommunications in the event of a disruption in one part of the network.

The new fiber systems will provide more reliable connections for voice and data communications and will accommodate future growth to meet the rising demand for local and long-distance calling and Internet access.

Once the project is completed this summer, Verizon will have fiber linking every community in which it provides service in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, including Watertown, Ogdensburg, Massena, Potsdam, Canton, Gouverneur, Alexandria Bay and Theresa. These communities also are served by Verizon's state-of-art digital call-switching systems.

"We continue to upgrade our network to provide customers across the North Country with high-speed access to the Internet, work-at-home capabilities, as well as a host of other innovative advanced services," said Paul A. Crotty, president of Verizon New York.

"The North Country fiber project highlights Verizon's continued commitment to improving and expanding its network in the region," said Crotty. "Whether deploying new fiber-optic systems or offering popular calling features and new, innovative local and long-distance calling plans, Verizon is helping consumers and businesses make progress every day."

The new fiber to be installed this summer will provide a more reliable, high-capacity and high-speed link for Verizon customers in Waddington by making them a part of the company extensive North Country fiber network. It also will provide more capacity and greater reliability for Verizon customers whose service is routed through Waddington.

Last year, Verizon introduced its digital subscriber line (DSL) service to most communities in the North Country. DSL allows both residential and business customers high-speed access to the Internet for small business needs, telecommuting, banking, shopping online and entertainment like games-on-demand.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 135.8 million access line equivalents and 32.5 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and 229,500 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to 33 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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