America Online Inc. Tuesday tapped Metromedia Fiber Network Inc. to provide
one-hop connectivity to AOL’s data centers.
Under the deal Metromedia Fiber Network subsidiary, AboveNet Communications Inc. will
independently market collocation and optical Internet protocol services to
America Online’s content providers.
AOL content-provider customers will have access to Metromedia’s global
one-hop Internet network. The deal includes complete access to Metromedia’s
public and private peering points assigned through neutral Internet
exchange PAIX.net, another Metromedia
subsidiary.
Metromedia’s dedicated optical network is capable of providing
multi-terabit per-second capacity for content providers directly connected
to AOL’s network.
Nick Tanzi, Metromedia Fiber Network president and chief operating officer,
said the alliance with AOL allows it to join forces with a global market
leader to deliver enterprise class end-to-end optical networking services.
“We think it represents a vote of confidence from the world’s leading
Internet online service and will give content providers a reliable, secure,
high-bandwidth communications infrastructure to deliver advanced data,
streaming video, e-commerce and Internet applications to AOL’s members,”
Tanzi said.
Joe Barrett, AOL vice president of Internet operations, said the Metromedia
Fiber Network deal would allow the firm to deliver content providers and
members world class Web access.
“Our strategy has always been to form alliances with the best technology
companies to build the fastest, most reliable and efficient network in the
industry,” Barrett said. “This agreement will give content providers access
to a network directly connected to AOL’s network, improving connectivity
and allowing rapid scaling.”
Metromedia Fiber Network provides optical IP Internet network
infrastructure solutions at a fixed cost. The firm’s goal is to change the
way that broadband capacity is sold. Metromedia contends that unmetered
bandwidth would eliminate Web content barriers inherent to network latency
that impacts today’s Internet delivery systems.
Currently Metromedia Fiber Network is expanding its collocation facilities
in 51 North America markets and has plans to establish its international
presence with network buildouts in 16 cities throughout Europe.
