Omaha adds to its information highway.

Omaha will be adding two more important stops on the information superhighway with the announcement by two prominent names in telecommunications that they will build information technology centers in the city.

MCI has announced plans to build a high-tech data center in Omaha that will support the advanced services encompassed by the network MCI envisions, as telecommunications, computers and entertainment converge on the information superhighway.

Meanwhile, Prairie Systems -- a leading provider of integrated voice, fax, data messaging and communication services -- has announced plans to be the anchor of a unique high technology campus called The World Communications Park to be developed in northwest Omaha.

MCI said construction of its highly automated 180,000-square-foot center is scheduled to begin in April of this year and, while the specific terms of the contract were not disclosed, MCI is expected to make a substantial investment in the building and equipment. Currently, MCI operates a switching center in Omaha that handles nearly 5 million calls per day.

Last month, MCI unveiled Network MCI, its long-range strategy to develop the nation's information superhighway and prepare for the interactive multimedia world of the future. According to MCI, part of this unifying plan includes the development of advanced enabling technologies, like those in the new data center, that will significantly contribute to MCI's existing intelligent network and help support the MCI products and services that will run on the information superhighway.

JOB CREATION

"MCI's decision to locate this high-tech center in Omaha is a big win for our state," said Gov. Ben Nelson. "The project will not only create many construction jobs in Omaha, its presence will make a significant contribution to our tax base."

Dan Crawford, MCI's president of network services, said Omaha was selected because of its central location, positive business climate and extensive telecommunications infrastructure.

"Building this center in Omaha makes perfect sense from both an operational and lifestyle point of view," said Crawford. "We wanted a location that would provide a pleasant working environment for our employees, plus good connections to our backbone network. Omaha gives us that and more."

The new center will primarily be used for data processing functions and will employ the most advanced fiber optic technology, including optical and magnetic disks capable of storing over 15 terrabytes, or 15 trillion bytes of data, the equivalent of over 400,000 sets of encyclopedias.

Some of the state-of-the-art equipment to be initially installed includes four of the largest mainframe computers available in the marketplace today, capable of processing over 20 million instructions per second; 12 robotic tape silos that each hold 5-6 thousand tapes, and can find and mount or dismount and file a tape in 30 seconds; plus air conditioning units capable of cooling over 1,000 homes and enough emergency electrical generating capacity to power a small city. NEW OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY

The data center will make extensive use of a new optical technology called ESCON optical fiber channels. These channels allow data to be transferred at the rate of 18 megabytes per second, or four times faster than conventional copper wire channels. ESCON also allows up to 60 kilometers between the central processing unit and other data storage equipment, which is 500 times more distance than before, which allows greater flexibility in locating additional data storage facilities.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., offers a full range of domestic and global telecommunications services through one of the world's largest state-of-the-art networks. With 1993 revenue of nearly $12 billion, the company is the second largest long distance provider in the United States, and has more than 65 offices in 58 countries and places.

PRAIRIE SYSTEMS PROJECT

Prairie Systems' project will be part of a proposed 70-acre campus designed to meet the special needs of a range of businesses directly involved in or highly dependent upon advanced telecommunications services. A Prairie Systems spokesperson stated that the company plans to consolidate its three present offices into a 40,000 square-foot facility to be constructed on a 20-acre site, which will be developed by the company. The capital expenditure for the initial building is projected to exceed $3 million. The occupancy date has been scheduled for the end of 1994. The success of Prairie Systems in both domestic and international markets sent the company on a search for a site that would accommodate anticipated long term expansion. Prairie Systems' President Dick Abramson stated that, "Because of the level of difficulty involved in the moving of our existing communications equipment, our search for the appropriate site was hinged on the fact that our choice must fulfill our needs for at least 20 years. The site that we have chosen meets the requirements necessary for our future growth." Currently, the company employs 65 people. Expansion will present additional employment opportunities at Prairie Systems with as many as 20 new jobs anticipated to be created within the next two years. Of these new positions, the majority will focus on a call for computer, software and telecommunications professionals. Abramson concluded, "We hope to serve the community by the offering of new jobs and by building in an area that has been highlighted in The City of Omaha Master Plan as a high priority mixed use district."