Norlight Telecommunications Inc. (Booth 700) announces it is expanding its 3,800-mile fiber network by 347 miles, activating optical fibers already deployed along a central Illinois corridor. The expansion will improve telecommunications access and reliability for Norlights wholesale customers. Jim Ditter, president of Norlight says, This particular network expansion is being undertaken in response to existing customer demand. This regional penetration into central Illinois will emphasize local distribution in order to take our wholesale customers closer to their customers.

Norlight will begin implementation of the 347-mile expansion immediately, and completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2005. The company will establish PoPs in Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign, and Danville, Ill.

Currently, Norlight operates an extensive network using a combination of and SONET technologies to deliver bandwidth up to OC-192 or 10-gigabit Ethernet services at more than 55 PoPs.

Bob Rogers, senior vice president of Norlight explains, By extending our reach to yet another important region second- and third-tier cities in Central Illinois we will soon have access to cost-effective, protected traffic distribution.