Frontier Communications Expands ROADM Network to Enhance Connectivity, Flexibility and Reliability for Rural America

Customers of Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE: FTR) are experiencing the benefits of an aggressive deployment by the company of the latest generation Packet-Optical Transport Network. To date, approximately 345 Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) systems have been fully-integrated into Frontier’s networks to enhance optical network flexibility and manageability and improve the customer experience. By mid-year Frontier will have added more than 6,500 miles of ROADM network. The dynamic optical network being deployed is based on Tellabs^® Optical Solutions, including the Tellabs 7100^® Optical Transport System and the Tellabs^® 7100 Nano Optical Transport System.

Frontier is leading the way to bring this technically-advanced and feature-rich network infrastructure to rural America, which is well suited to the flexibility and scalability of multi-service Packet-Optical Transport technology. In West Virginia, the company’s deployment of 108 ROADM systems has enhanced network flexibility without requiring major upfront planning or future reconstruction of the network to accommodate unforeseen service demands.

Overall ROADM benefits include:

• The ability to turn up bandwidth for multiple services without the need for intensive long-term forecasts or pre-planning of service types;
• More intelligence and automated signaling, plus faster circuit provisioning and activation time; and
• Efficient use of personnel, since technicians are needed only at origin and destination points to install line cards – all other provisioning is automatic.

The flexible optical network capabilities are important as network capacity continues to grow and as demand for Frontier’s higher capacity residential and business services increases. The ROADM-based network also provides a strategic competitive advantage, allowing faster time to revenue due to reduced circuit provisioning time, reduced churn and greater flexibility in network offerings.

Frontier’s Packet-Optical Transport Network can now deliver more than 30 different types of residential or business services such as Ethernet (Fiber to the Office or Cell Site), Session Internet Protocol (SIP) trunking, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Dedicated Internet Access Services (DIA).

Michael Golob, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Technology, noted that Frontier’s investments in multi-service ROADM technology in West Virginia, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois are paying off in terms of service design and installation. "Customers are benefiting from the increased speed and flexibility experienced when adding or reconfiguring the multiple services Frontier offers,” he said. "For example, the Tellabs 7100 technology we are deploying enables cost-effective optical interconnection and efficient dropping of services to local customers.” He explains, "The flexibility of the network we designed lets Frontier provide more than 30 services while eliminating stranded bandwidth. The ability of ROADM technology to remotely configure new optical channels within the network lets us optimize bandwidth use and significantly reduce service activation cost and time. This results in increased customer satisfaction and it maximizes the value of company assets.”

Golob notes that the scalable Packet-Optical Transport Network not only improves the customer experience for residential services, but also enhances Frontier’s business and data center service offerings. Frontier’s dynamic optical network deployment and continued improvements in automation of systems and processes will provide long-term benefits to all Frontier customers.

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE: FTR) offers voice, High-Speed Internet, satellite video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions, bundled offerings, specialized bundles for small businesses and home offices, and advanced business communications for medium and large businesses in 27 states and with approximately 14,800 employees, all based in the United States. Frontier is a Fortune 500 company included in the S&P 500 Index. More information is available at www.frontier.com and