Switch and Data Deploys 10 Gigabit Ethernet Services At Three PAIX Sites; Also Announcing Scalable Internet Exchange Port Speeds up to 8GigE at 9 PAIX sites.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Switch and Data, a leading neutral Internet exchange and colocation provider, announced it has deployed its 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GigE) platform in three sites. As part of its industry-leading PAIX peering services, the 10GigE PAIX switch is now operational in Switch and Data's Palo Alto site and in New York City at both 111 8th Avenue and 60 Hudson. Switch and Data is the first Internet exchange to offer 10GigE peering capacity on both the East and West Coast.

The exponential growth in online content demand continues to push content providers, content aggregators and media companies to find more efficient and higher capacity solutions to ensure their customers get the performance and reliability they expect. According to Forrester Research, Internet video is exploding with typical video-laden media sites doubling traffic every six to eight months. The market for online gaming will continue to grow with the total market projected to double from 2004 to 2007 (Global Information, Inc.) and IPTV subscribers are projected to jump from 1.6 million in 2004 to 32 million by 2009 (In-Stat). In order to meet these demands, content and media companies rely on multiple interconnection methods, including peering, for optimum performance.

Switch and Data's upgrades to its PAIX peering platform provide for greater exchange data capacity - by 10 fold -- allowing faster, more economical integration and management of IP traffic in public peering connections and private cross connects.

Limelight Networks, the leading content delivery network for Internet distribution of video, music, games, and downloads, is adding 10GigE ports in Switch and Data's Palo Alto and New York PAIX facilities as part of the company's aggressive build-out of its global content delivery network. During the course of the year Limelight has upgraded its delivery network by stepping up to10GigE connections and implementing a multicore routing architecture to provide enhanced delivery of high-bandwidth media. The result--Limelight's unique architecture is a generation ahead of other content delivery networks.

"Our strategic partnership with Switch and Data and the migration to a 10GigE platform is key to meeting the requirements of our media and entertainment provider customers for delivering real-time, bandwidth intensive content," said Nathan Raciborski, chief network architect of Limelight Networks. "As the leading media companies continue to grow, our relationship with Switch and Data will enhance our ability to help them cost-effectively scale in order to accommodate their fast-growing customer bases."

The 10GigE PAIX platform has been extended to 111 8th Avenue and 60 Hudson in New York City after being in full production in Palo Alto since May 2005. Almost 200 peering participants are on the 10GigE platform in Palo Alto and 111 8th today. Customers at 60 Hudson can immediately peer with customers at 111 8th through a Layer 2 MetroPAIX connection of the two New York sites. This interconnection of both 10GigE platforms creates a single peering fabric in New York that allows customers to focus their equipment investment in one facility while benefiting from the choice of peering participants in both - driving significant overall savings.

"Switch and Data and our PAIX services continue to be the forerunner in the exchange and peering industry," says Ernie Sampera, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Switch and Data. "We recognize the significance of 10GigE in facilitating capacity and density growth - the lifeblood of exchanges - and we are making the investments for our customers as they grow and develop. End-users of content providers, media companies and online gaming companies expect performance and our 10GigE platform allows these companies to deliver this performance efficiently and cost-effectively."

Full and Fractional 10GigE Deployment

Switch and Data already operates the largest single neutral commercial Internet exchange point in the world in Palo Alto, which features full (10GigE) and fractional (2 to 8 Gbps - gigabits per second) 10GigE peering ports, as well as MetroPAIX services with its San Jose PAIX facility. The full and fractional 10GigE services, now available in both its New York City PAIX facility at 111 8th Avenue and 60 Hudson PAIX site, are designed to handle the demand for increased IP traffic volume.

Economical and Scalable NxGigE National Deployment

Switch and Data has deployed NxGigE (N by GigE) services to nine (9) PAIX facilities, including Atlanta, Dallas, New York City (2), Palo Alto, Philadelphia, San Jose, Seattle, and Vienna (VA). NxGigE peering services will allow customers to purchase bandwidth as they need and scale up as they grow. Available from 2Gbps to 8Gbps, NxGigE ports are the most economical high-speed peering options on the market, allowing customers to purchase ports at a nominal percentage increase from the GigE list for each port speed option. Customers can also continue to leverage existing investments in GigE routers/hardware, as NxGigE switches bundle multiple physical GigE ports.

Both the 10GigE and NxGigE switch platforms are covered by the Switch and Data "Best in Class" 99.999% PAIX Port Availability Service Level Agreement.

About Switch and Data

Recently named to the 2004 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing, privately held companies, Switch and Data is a leading provider of exchange and managed infrastructure services. Based in Tampa, Florida, offers the densest interconnection facility in New York City with 330 connectivity options and operates the largest footprint of neutral Internet exchange and managed infrastructure facilities in North America supporting more than 800 customers. The company's PAIX services are available in more markets than any other neutral Internet exchange provider in North America. For more information, please visit http://www.switchanddata.com/.