February 21, 2001 -- Universal Access and Electric Lightwave announced an arrangement that will allow both companies to expand their fiber-optic network reach through Universal Access' Universal Transport Exchange facilities. This strategic alliance will allow both companies to leverage the networks of a variety of carriers to give them virtually limitless network access.

Electric Lightwave will use Universal Access' UTX facilities as interconnection points, speeding the provisioning of off-net metropolitan loops, allowing the company to offer more competitive pricing, more connectivity options and shorter installation time frames to its customers. In addition, the information within Universal Access' Universal Information Exchange databases will be used to provision circuits quickly and efficiently for Electric Lightwave.

Conversely, Universal Access will also sell capacity on Electric Lightwave's backbone to its other customers. By building into the UTX facilities, Electric Lightwave should have quick access to anywhere from 5 to 25 local and long haul carrier networks from each facility.