FirstLight Fiber Upgrades IP Core Network

ALBANY, NY–(Marketwired – Mar 17, 2014) – FirstLight Fiber, a facilities-based telecommunications service provider operating fiber optic networks in Upstate New York and Northern New England, announced today the upgrade of its IP core network to further support area businesses demanding high quality Internet connectivity. 

With this upgrade, FirstLight has enhanced its high performance, carrier-grade, regional network creating an Internet service that is uniquely different. Unlike other Internet networks, the FirstLight IP network is architected in a way that allows FirstLight customers to directly connect to popular, highly trafficked sites resulting in fewer hops and an improved experience. In fact, 50% of all Internet traffic on the FirstLight network is directly connected to the ultimate destination, reducing latency. 

To enhance network resilience, FirstLight’s IP network is deployed regionally in a ring architecture with each region capable of operating independently. Internet traffic is redundantly routed over the Company’s fiber network with the ultimate survivability of two separate meshed core networks, allowing for no single point of failure within that core. To ensure ubiquitous access and maximum performance, FirstLight’s Internet transit and multiple peering points allow for traffic to be routed seamlessly over the most direct path. FirstLight’s IP network employs redundant equipment, connections, and power supplies, and is monitored on a 24×7×365 basis by FirstLight’s Network Operations Center located in Albany, NY.

“FirstLight’s network design philosophy is based on the understanding that the services we provide are vital to the sustainability and growth of all businesses, no matter the type or size,” said James Capuano, Chief Networking Officer of FirstLight. “Our network is designed to provide the high level of quality, redundancy and resiliency that our customers have already come to know. As our network expands, we are increasing our gateways to the outside world and other parts of the Internet to create for the most premium connections.”

FirstLight has been building and operating its own fiber optic network, including fiber to the premises systems, for nearly 15 years. FirstLight combines advanced networking technology with a staff experienced in high demand carrier, enterprise, government customers to provide outstanding service and support.

In addition to Internet connectivity, FirstLight also provides Data Services, Colocation, Voice, and Virtual PBX services.

To learn more about FirstLight, visit www.firstlight.net, or follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About FirstLight Fiber
FirstLight Fiber, headquartered in Albany, NY, provides fiber optic data, Internet, colocation and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers in Upstate New York and Northern New England with connectivity to Canada utilizing its own fiber optic network, which spans over 190,000 fiber miles connecting in excess of 1,400 lit locations. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products, including dedicated Internet access, Metro Ethernet, traditional TDM solutions, SIP trunks, virtual PBX and audio-conferencing, managed commercial wireless systems, and Data Center Colocation. FirstLight’s clientele includes national cellular providers and CLECs and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments. FirstLight is a portfolio company of Boston-based private equity firm Riverside Partners.