Backbone Directory: AboveNet Communications

AboveNet Communications' global network covers more than 1.5 million miles of fiber worldwide.

by Jeff Goldman [July 6, 2005]

Founded in 1996 by Sherman Tuan and Dave Rand, White Plains, N.Y.-based AboveNet Communications was acquired by Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) in September 1999.

In 2002, MFN filed for bankruptcy. Upon emerging from bankruptcy in September of 2003, MFN renamed itself AboveNet Communications.

"The intent of that restructuring was not just to clean up the balance sheet," says Joe Ramsey, AboveNet's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "It was also meant to restructure the product line, clarify the strategic focus and business plan of the company, and really focus on what is it that's in our genes, and what is it that we do best."

AboveNet's main objective now, Ramsey says, lies in providing fiber connectivity solutions for business. "It's the private optical network that is really the core focus of the company," he says.

With more than 1.5 million fiber miles deployed globally, AboveNet's private optical network delivers network and IP services in and between 15 top U.S. metro markets and London. AboveNet hubs are connected via AboveNet fiber with DWDM equipment terminating the fiber. Backbone trunks range from OC-12 to OC-192, and AboveNet uses Packet Over SONET IP (POSIP) on all trunks due to its increased efficiency over ATM.

AboveNet has six data centers in North America, as well as a London facility. Each data center is connected directly to AboveNet's global all-optical IP architecture over a dedicated fiber optic network. Strengths of the data centers include mechanical systems with multiple levels of redundancy; a cooling system that ensures climate temperatures do not affect computing power; an advanced Continuous Power Supply (CPS) system that protects against degraded commercial power and interruptions; a Very Early Smoke Detection Alarm (VESDA) that constantly samples the air for dangerous particles; and round-the-clock surveillance.

Services:

Metro Access Networks (MAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and Managed Services including WDM Wavelength Services, Metro Ethernet, WAN Ethernet, IP Transit, Dark Fiber, Hosting, and Data Centers.

Network reach:

• Lit buildings in U.S.—over 1,050
• Fiber miles worldwide—over 1.5 million

Domestic markets served:

New York/New Jersey Metro Area, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC/Northern VA, San Francisco/San Jose, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta

International markets served:

London, Tokyo

Corporate Contact Info:

	Executive:	William G. LaPerch, President and Chief Executive Officer
	Headquarters:	360 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
	Voice:	914-421-6700
	Toll Free:	866-859-6971
	Additional Offices:	130 Main St. N, 3rd Floor, Butte, Montana, 59701-9332 867 Coal Creek Circle, Suite 160, Louisville, Colorado, 80027
	E-mail:	info@above.net
	Sales:	877-GO-ABOVE (877-462-2683) sales@above.net
	Online inquiry form:	https://portal.above.net/pub/inquiry.cfm
	ISP products:	www.above.net/products/index.html
	Press releases:	www.above.net/news/index.html
	Financial:	ABVT