Nstar Communications has licensed all of its remaining fiber-optic network capacity to Massachusetts-based Lightower. The long-term agreement gives Lightower exclusive rights to all available capacity on Nstar's network, including backbone routes and paths to buildings.

The deal enhances the reach of Lightower's network in downtown Boston and the greater Boston area. The company's current network comprises of more than 5,500 fiber-route miles with access to more than 2,100 buildings, which include data centers, carrier hotels and other facilities.

The Nstar network counts more than 280 fiber-route miles, providing access to about 225 commercial buildings. Nstar Communications is a subsidiary of the Boston-based energy company Nstar.

Quanta to build state-wide $118.5m network in Pennsylvania
A coalition of Pennsylvania organizations has commissioned two subsidiaries of contracting services company Quanta to design and build a statewide fiber-optic network in the state. The coalition includes Pennsylvania colleges, universities, research and healthcare organizations, as well as economic-development agencies.

Called Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research (KNIBER), the coalition is a non-profit corporation created to coordinate construction and management of the future network. It will aggregate network services for its members and subscribers.

Contract for the 10GbE network is worth about $118.5m. Bulk of the cost ($99.6m) will be covered by a grant KNIBER received from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Level 3 launches two new European routes
Level 3 launched new fiber-optic connections from London to Madrid and from Frankfurt to Madrid, offering customers transport services on the new routes with circuit speeds of up to 10Gbps. The company is targeting new European capacity at financial-services clients.

The new routes also improve latency on Level 3's routes between Madrid and New York and between Madrid and Chicago. James Heard, president of European markets at Level 3, said the expansion was a "direct response" to its customers' changing geographic-diversity needs.

The company's network currently spans 23 countries, serving about 190 markets in Europe and North America.