Greenwich Hospital Selects Fibertech Networks To Provide Fiber Optic Connectivity; Network Will Connect Multiple Locations Providing Significant Operating and Cost Efficiencies.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Greenwich Hospital, a 174-bed community hospital serving lower Fairfield County Connecticut and Westchester County New York, has selected Fibertech Networks, a leader in building and operating metropolitan-area networks within mid-size U.S. cities, to provide a private, dark fiber optic network connecting its locations in Greenwich and Stamford, CT. Financial terms of the agreement has not been disclosed.

A major academic affiliate of Yale University School of Medicine and a member of the Yale New Haven Health System, Greenwich Hospital was seeking to strengthen its communications and IT capabilities through the use of direct fiber optic connections.

According to James Weeks, CIO for Greenwich Hospital, this new network is the first phase of a multi-layered approach to enhance its communications infrastructure and integrate technology among its facilities. Greenwich's broader technology strategy will accommodate all-digital Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS) for radiology applications and disaster recovery/data backup efforts.

"We are committed to continuously improving the health and well being of our patients through the use of new technology," said Weeks. "From reducing our administrative costs to providing us with a reliable and redundant communications system, the network from Fibertech strengthens our vision of providing service excellence and exceptional care to everyone we serve."

Added Nassir Nizami, Senior Network Engineer/Security Officer for Greenwich Hospital, "Fibertech was able to provide us with the necessary bandwidth through dark fiber optics that is not readily available through traditional telecommunications operators. This network provides the most reliable and redundant solution to support our PACS system, as well as other critical data applications."

In deploying this network, Fibertech will utilize a small portion of its own nearly 1,300-mile fiber optic backbone in Connecticut. Remaining connections into Greenwich Hospital buildings require additional construction by Fibertech.

In addition to Greenwich Hospital, Fibertech serves numerous healthcare organizations including Baystate Health System in Massachusetts, Community Health System in Indianapolis, and Catholic Health System in Buffalo. The company also connects other business customers including financial, education and government agencies looking to manage their own network facilities. Fibertech brings "dark" fiber optic cables directly to local business locations and the customer connects their own electronics to "light" the fibers on the network.

"Patient confidentiality, large data record transfers and new advances in medical equipment have reshaped the role of information technology within the health care industry," said Mike Hurley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Fibertech. "To better move and manage its data requirements, a dark fiber optic network provides healthcare systems including Greenwich Hospital with the most cost-effective, scaleable infrastructure to meet growing bandwidth needs."

Fibertech has local metro networks operational in 18 mid-size cities including Hartford, Bridgeport, Stamford and New Haven, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, White Plains and Albany, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; Wilmington, Delaware; Concord, N.H.; Columbus, Ohio; and Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts.

About Fibertech Networks

Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., Fibertech Networks is a leader in building and operating fiber optic networks throughout mid-size cities in the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. The company has built metro-area networks strategically connecting local Telco central offices, carrier hotels, data centers, office parks and other high traffic locations. Fibertech recently placed fifth on the 2004 Rochester Top 100 list, which ranks privately held companies based on three years of revenue growth.

Founded in 2000 and privately held, Fibertech investors are led by Nautic Partners of Providence, R.I., and Banc of America Capital Investors of Charlotte, N.C. Further information about the company can be found at www.fibertech.com.