Yipes, the leading managed optical IP network provider, has extended its fiber optic infrastructure in major North American markets through an agreement with Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (MFN) (Nasdaq: MFNX), the leader in deployment of fiber optic infrastructure within key metropolitan areas internationally. The agreement, valued at more than $125 million, will enable Yipes to quickly bring ultra-high-speed Internet services to more of its customers across the United States.

Yipes provides business customers and other enhanced data service providers with data services featuring unmatched flexibility and scalability over the familiar Ethernet interface. Customers may select LAN-to-LAN service between business locations or high-speed Internet services, both scalable from 1 Mbps to 1 Gbps, in 1Mbps increments. Yipes will extend these services into downtown and suburban areas of Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, using MFN's fiber infrastructure.

"MFN's fiber optic infrastructure allows managed network service providers like Yipes to offer Internet access at broadband-level capacity, enabling an entirely new class of bandwidth-intensive applications," said Nick Tanzi, President and Chief Operating Officer of Metromedia Fiber Network. "Through this agreement, Yipes will gain access to unshared, fully scalable bandwidth at a fixed cost, allowing them to deliver today's cutting-edge business, engineering and multimedia services over the Internet."

"By utilizing MFN's fiber optic infrastructure, Yipes is able to extend our unique suite of IP-over-fiber network services with business quality of service to customers in additional metropolitan regions nationwide," said Jerry Parrick, CEO of Yipes. "This relationship will let us accelerate our deployment of LAN-to-LAN and LAN-to-Internet services for meeting the critical needs of businesses."

"Next-generation service providers like Yipes must be able to build footprint quickly in addition to creating and provisioning services easily, while maintaining operational economies," said Raj Mehta, Senior Analyst at the research firm RHK. "Yipes' relationship with MFN reflects the strategy necessary for such providers to enter the market rapidly on a large scale."

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