Optimum Lightpath Completes Strategic Acquisition of 4Connections LLC

JERICHO, N.Y., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Optimum Lightpath(SM), an industry leader in providing advanced Ethernet-based business communications services over its Intelligent Enterprise Network in the Tri-state area, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 4Connections LLC.

The acquisition of 4Connections LLC, a dark fiber provider focused exclusively on the New Jersey market, significantly expands Optimum Lightpath’s network reach and ability to offer highly competitive, advanced Ethernet-based data, internet, voice, video, and managed service products to more businesses based in New Jersey and with branch offices in New Jersey. Founded in 2001, 4Connections serves customers across multiple key vertical markets including financial services, healthcare, government and education, in 10 counties across New Jersey.

The New Jersey market represents a significant growth opportunity for Optimum Lightpath among public and private sector companies, specifically among suburban businesses, that will now have access to the same communications technologies that are creating competitive advantages for their rivals located in city centers.

“Optimum Lightpath has been successful in bringing the benefits of direct fiber Ethernet connectivity to enterprise headquarters and buildings located in large metropolitan areas including Newark and New York City, and we are excited by this new opportunity to bring those high quality Ethernet based services to businesses in suburban business centers or remote, branch and back offices within New Jersey,” said Dave Pistacchio, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Optimum Lightpath. “With the acquisition of 4Connections, which adds the capability of nearly 500 route miles of fiber across key areas of New Jersey, Optimum Lightpath can better serve New Jersey businesses with the expertise, network and services in place to address the demand for fiber Ethernet connectivity in key markets throughout the state.”

There is an increasing demand by financial service firms and other businesses for Optimum Lightpath services in New Jersey areas. The acquisition allows the company to further penetrate New Jersey businesses and capitalize on its geographic footprint adding to Optimum Lightpath existing footprint across Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Union, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Bergen, Ocean and Passaic Counties.

With the addition of 4Connections, Optimum Lightpath now has more than 3,694 route miles of fiber in the ground and 3,060 lit commercial buildings across the tri-state area, Optimum Lightpath’s Intelligent Enterprise Network is the only 100 percent fiber optic business in the area designed with the scalability to deliver high bandwidth capacity and network speeds, and supported by built-in intelligence for optimized business performance.

The Company offers service with speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to hundreds of gigabits and a variety of innovative service offerings, including:

   —  Lightpath Internet/Voice Bundle, with Ethernet speeds from 5 Mbps to       300 Mbps and voice bundles at 50,000, 100,000, and 250,000 minutes;   —  Lightpath E-Line and V-Line (point-to-point private line connection)       with bandwidth options from 10 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps;   —  Lightpath ELAN (multipoint-to-multipoint) with bandwidth speeds from       10 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps;   —  Lightpath Video Services including Lightpath Video Transport, a Metro       Ethernet Forum -Certified, standards-based Ethernet connections with       the expected performance characteristics and reliability for       broadcast-quality video transport, without the limitations of SONET       and other legacy technologies and Lightpath Managed Video, a complete       video service, that provides transport and encoding and decoding of       native compressed and uncompressed digital video in common industry       formats, including ASI, SDI and HD-SDI; and   —  Lightpath Data Center Connectivity Services, specifically designed to       support a range of storage hosting and backup services to clients,       including Business Continuity Disaster Recovery (BCDR), Remote       Replication, Backup and Recovery, Data Center Storage Area Network,       and Disk and Transaction Mirroring.    

Under terms of the agreement, 4Connections will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Optimum Lightpath. The existing management team and employees will remain based in Parsippany. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Businesses interested in learning more about Optimum Lightpath’s services can visit http://www.optimumlightpath.com/ or call 1-877-LIGHTPATH.

About Optimum Lightpath

Optimum Lightpath(SM), a division of Cablevision Systems Corporation , is an industry leader in providing advanced Ethernet-based data, Internet, voice, video transport solutions and managed services to businesses across the New York metropolitan area. Optimum Lightpath’s Intelligent Enterprise Network is a highly reliable, resilient and scalable fiber-to-the-business-premises network extending more than 3,694 route miles and is connected to over 3,000 buildings. Exclusively focused on meeting customer needs in the world’s largest business market for 20 years, Optimum Lightpath has been continually recognized for its high level of customer service. For 10 straight years, the New York State Public Service Commission has given Optimum Lightpath its Commendation of Excellence. Optimum Lightpath has received many industry awards for innovation and leadership. For more information, visit http://www.optimumlightpath.com/.

About Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation’s leading media and entertainment companies. Its cable television operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company’s advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO TV(R) digital television, Optimum Online(R) high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice(R) digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv, through Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and serves the New York area as publisher of Newsday and other niche publications through Newsday LLC. In addition to these businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.

Media Contact: Charlstie Laytin, Cablevision, 516-803-2357

Optimum Lightpath

CONTACT: Charlstie Laytin of Cablevision, +1-516-803-2357

Web Site: http://www.optimumlightpath.com/