FairPoint Communications Upgrades Network Infrastructure in Norway to Offer Internet Speeds up to 500 Mbps

PORTLAND, Maine (April 16 2014) – FairPoint Communications recently completed the installation of new technology in its central office in Norway, expanding access to high-speed Ethernet-based data and voice technologies to more than 300 local businesses and public institutions.

These services are delivered over northern New England’s largest fiber-core network, with more than 87 percent of central offices already equipped with Ethernet connections. FairPoint now offers Ethernet services to 90 percent of businesses in Maine.

Norway is home to one of 110 central offices in Maine and 280 central offices across northern New England that FairPoint has upgraded with Ethernet technology since January 2011. FairPoint will upgrade 12 central offices across northern New England, including the one in Norway, with Ethernet technology in 2014.

Since 2008, FairPoint has invested more than $700 million in its high-capacity network infrastructure across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. This investment enables Ethernet dedicated Internet and networking capabilities, which improve bandwidth scalability and transport capacity for business-class service and reliability. Specifically, Ethernet enables symmetrical two-way data transport speeds up to 500 Mbps. It also facilitates the next generation of mobile and cloud-based communications including hosted voice, session initiated protocol (SIP) trunking and managed services.

“At FairPoint, we believe that local businesses form the backbone of our communities and we will help keep them running now and in the future with an expanding portfolio of high-capacity services,” said Mike Reed, Maine State President for FairPoint Communications. “Since April 2008, FairPoint has invested more than one million dollars a week, on average, to build and support the technology infrastructure that underpins the success of the region, its businesses and families. We’re excited to open new doors for our business customers in Norway with this investment in our connectivity.”

Not all services available in all areas. For more information, visit www.FairPoint.com, or contact local business sales leader in Maine, Mark Clements, at mclements@fairpoint.com or (207) 878-4002.

About FairPoint Communications, Inc.
FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRP) provides advanced data, voice and video technologies to single and multi-site businesses, public and private institutions, consumers, wireless companies and wholesale re-sellers in 17 states.� Leveraging an owned, fiber-core Ethernet network ? including more than 16,000 route miles of fiber in northern New England ? FairPoint has the network coverage, scalable bandwidth and transport capacity to support enhanced applications, including the next generation of mobile and cloud-based communications, such as small cell wireless backhaul technology, voice over IP, data center colocation services, managed services and disaster recovery.� For more information, visit www.FairPoint.com.