Switch and Data and PAIX.net Form Strategic Alliance.

Business Editors

TAMPA, Fla. & PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2001

Agreement Extends Peering Points to Key Switch and

Data Convergent Network Centers, Immediately Changing

Nationwide Peering Landscape

Switch and Data Facilities Company (Switch and Data), operator of the largest footprint of carrier-neutral colocation centers, and PAIX.net, Inc. (PAIX) -- a subsidiary of Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) (Nasdaq:MFNX), and the leading neutral Internet Exchange -- today announced the signing of a strategic alliance that provides peering and interconnection services to customers of both companies.

This alliance brings together two of the largest vendor-neutral colocation companies in the U.S. With its established nationwide Class-A Internet Exchange locations, PAIX will deploy its Layer 2 Switch fabric, "Peering by PAIX(SM)", in several Switch and Data facilities. The first deployments will occur in Miami, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles. Switch and Data operates 34 colocation centers in first and second tier U.S. markets that feature a high concentration of carrier points-of-presence and fully managed meet-me-rooms.

By joining forces, Switch and Data and PAIX will provide customers with unparalleled nationwide reach, connecting them to the most comprehensive peering exchange in the country where participants in the Internet community can do business without interference from the facility owner.

"We chose to work with Switch and Data because, like PAIX, they are a clear industry leader and maintain strict neutrality in their business operations," said Paul Vixie, president of PAIX.net, Inc. "This alliance ensures that we can accommodate the future growth of our ISP customers in high-demand markets and provide our customers with increased interconnectivity options, improved time to market and greater geographic scope."

"We are pleased to have created this alliance with PAIX. Switch and Data is committed to providing high quality services that meet the infrastructure needs of our customers now and in the future," said Patricia Higgins, president and CEO of Switch and Data. "Many of our customers require network peering services. Through our alliance with PAIX, we will provide the high quality and scalable network peering services essential to those customers," she added.

The alliance enables PAIX.net and Switch and Data to take advantage of the synergies associated with providing interconnection points for a variety of Telcos and Web-centric customers. The cooperative effort enhances the value propositions for each company. PAIX will have immediate access to new markets, and Switch and Data will gain access to "Peering by PAIX(SM)," PAIX's packet-based switching. In the metro areas included in the agreement, the companies will jointly market both colocation space and "Peering by PAIX(SM)."

About Switch and Data

Founded in 1997, Switch and Data (http://www.switchanddata.com) is a pioneer of carrier-neutral, colocation shared telecommunications infrastructure facilities. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and with 34 operational facilities, Switch and Data comprises the largest footprint of carrier-neutral colocation centers in the U.S. The company also provides value-added services and technical support to its customer base, which includes an array of service providers such as Metro Area Networks, Dark Fiber Providers, Internet Service Providers, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, Application Service Providers, Managed Service Providers, Data Storage Providers and Incumbent telephone companies.

About PAIX.net

PAIX.net, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, began operations in 1996 as Digital Equipment Corporation's Palo Alto Internet Exchange. Having proven itself as a vital part of the Internet infrastructure, PAIX.net serves as a packet switching center for ISP's. PAIX.net also offers secure, fault-tolerant co-location services to ISP's. PAIX.net enables ISP's to form public and private peering relationships with each other and choose from multiple telecommunications carriers for circuits, all within the same facility. PAIX.net is a subsidiary of MFN. To ensure its neutrality, it operates as a separate entity with its own management. For additional information about PAIX.net call 877-PAIXnet (877-724-9638) or visit its Web site at http://www.paix.net.

About MFN

MFN is the leading provider of digital communications infrastructure solutions. The Company combines the most extensive metropolitan area fiber network with a global optical IP network, state-of-the-art data centers and award winning managed services to deliver fully integrated, outsourced communications solutions to Global 2000 companies. The all-fiber infrastructure enables MFN customers to share vast amounts of information internally and externally over private networks and a global IP backbone, creating collaborative businesses that communicate at the speed of light.

Customers can take advantage of MFN's complete, end-to-end solution or select individual components to complement their existing infrastructures. By leasing MFN's metropolitan and regional fiber, customers can create their own, private optical network with virtually unlimited, un-metered bandwidth at a fixed fee. For more reliable, secure and high-performance Internet connectivity, customers can use MFN's private IP network to communicate globally without ever touching the public-switched network. Moreover, MFN's comprehensive managed services enable companies to create a world-class Internet presence, optimize complex sites and private optical networks, and transform legacy applications, all with a single point of contact.

One network. One infrastructure. One source.

For more information on MFN, please visit our Web site at http://www.mfn.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the Company's control. This also includes such factors as are described from time to time in the SEC reports filed by Metromedia Fiber Network including the most recently filed Forms S-3, 10-K and 10-Q.