LightCore Wins MOREnet Contract

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. –– The Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet), a unit of the University of Missouri System, has awarded LightCore a three-year, $3.3 million contract to provide high-speed bandwidth services. Installation work is underway and the project should be completed in the first quarter of 2004.

MOREnet will use LightCore to provide high-speed backbone data services, including access to the Internet and Internet2, and videoconferencing services to Missouri’s K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, health care, state government, and other affiliated organizations. LightCore will provide service via dual diverse ring-protected fiber optic routes into MOREnet’s data centers in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield.

“When we looked at LightCore’s network reach it almost appeared as though portions of it were built precisely for this project. LightCore has an ‘On-Net’ presence in all the sectors that we needed to get to,” said Bill Mitchell, executive director of MOREnet. “In addition to submitting a compelling bid, it was also clear that LightCore was committed to our future.

“A single reliable, carrier-class, high-quality network offers economies of scale, as well as more options than several smaller networks,” Mitchell said. “Network sharing allows MOREnet customers access to a broader range of services – giving each organization more than any one could afford alone.”

Matt Porterfield, senior vice president of sales and marketing for LightCore said, “MOREnet conducted a diligent search in selecting a partner for this important project. We are proud to have won MOREnet’s trust and confidence. We see this as further evidence that LightCore is becoming the Central United States’ pre-eminent carrier for critical data traffic.”

LightCore