LAS VEGAS, -- June 9, 2005 -- Mpower Holding Corporation (Amex: MPE - News), a leading provider of data and voice services to retail and wholesale business customers, today announced that its operating subsidiary Mpower Communications Corp. is expanding its facilities-based network with the acquisition of a metro fiber network in Las Vegas from IDACOMM, the communications subsidiary of IDACORP (NYSE: IDA - News).
The 141-route mile fiber network will have three fully survivable rings, which will connect Mpower's switch and the majority of its collocation facilities in Las Vegas with a fully-redundant core network architecture. The network is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2006.
In conjunction with the broadband fixed wireless network Mpower recently announced it is deploying across Las Vegas in the third quarter of this year, Mpower will now have comprehensive end-to-end network connectivity including dedicated backbone transport and direct last mile connections to its customers in this market.
"This Las Vegas fiber backbone complements our California fiber network and will give us substantial fiber assets in our largest markets," stated Mpower Communications Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rolla P. Huff. "With this network in place, we expect lower transport costs, enhanced network quality, speed-to-market with new products, shorter provisioning intervals and extended reach. We also gain greater flexibility and more control over the connections to our customers without relying on the ILEC. Importantly, we are able to acquire this fiber network within our existing capital expenditure guidance."
In addition to supporting Mpower's full range of IP-based and traditional voice and data products and services, the fiber network will open up new business opportunities for Mpower as it will pass through key business centers of concentration in the city and create wholesale opportunities for Mpower's private line offering. Mpower has been serving the telecommunications needs of the Las Vegas market since 1996 and currently employs more than 300 people in that market.
About Mpower
Mpower Communications Corp., the wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Mpower Holding Corporation (Amex: MPE - News), is a leading facilities-based broadband communications provider offering a full range of data, telephony, Voice over IP and Web hosting services for small and medium-size business customers. Further information about the company can be found at http://www.mpowercom.com .
About IDACOMM
IDACOMM is the communications subsidiary of IDACORP (NYSE: IDA - News), a $2.8 billion family of companies including the award-winning utility Idaho Power. IDACOMM shares a heritage of technical expertise, customer service, and financial stability uncommon in the current telecom landscape. IDACOMM possesses more than 25 years of fiber optic networking expertise. Further information about the company can be found at http://www.idacomm.com .
