Azzurro HD Chooses New Lightower Ultimate Media Platform for Fiber-Based Transport of HD Video


BOXBOROUGH, MA--(Marketwire - Jun 18, 2012) -

  • New Lightower Ultimate Media Platform offers best-in-class fiber-based transport of uncompressed HD video, full protection, and 24/7/365 monitoring
  • Azzurro HD will migrate existing video services to new Lightower platform
  • Lightower Ultimate Media Platform to power future Azzurro clients

Lightower Fiber Networks, the premier metro fiber and bandwidth provider in the Northeast, announced today that Azzurro HD, a New York-based provider of broadcast-quality video transmission services, has selected Lightower's new Ultimate Media Platform to power Azzurro's all digital switching and transport solutions for uncompressed HD video.

Lightower's new Ultimate Media Platform provides best-in-class, fiber-based video transport services at over 30 venues, broadcast centers, and video distribution facilities throughout the New York City and New Jersey area. The Ultimate Media Platform supports a variety of compressed or uncompressed video formats including ASI, SDI, HD/SDI and JPEG2000. The platform also offers protect path options and 24/7/365 service monitoring from Lightower's geographically diverse Network Operation Centers. Azzurro HD will leverage the Lightower platform throughout the New York City and New Jersey area for current and future video customers.

"Lightower is pleased to announce Azzurro as a new customer on our Ultimate Media Platform. We believe that our platform offers the industry's best video transport services, with the limitless bandwidth of the Lightower Network combined with complete protection options, constant monitoring, and the breadth of support for different video formats," stated Rob Shanahan, President & CEO of Lightower. "We look forward to continuing to work with Azzurro, serving their needs as well as those of their customers."

"Azzurro's partnership with Lightower will raise the bar considerably from a quality and technical standpoint for video transport at the local video loop level," explained Francis Luperella, President & COO, Azzurro Group. "Lightower has discarded the two cans and a shoestring mentality when it comes to telco-provided local video loops, and has created a video platform that will take both Azzurro and Lightower to the next generation of local video transport. The quality of Lightower's Ultimate Media Platform, coupled with Azzurro HD's all digital switching facility, creates the best one-two punch in the business."

The Lightower Ultimate Media Platform is available now throughout Lightower's network footprint, including the New York City and New Jersey region. For more information about Lightower's Ultimate Media Platform, visit www.lightower.com, email info@lightower.com, or call 888-LT-FIBER.

About Lightower Fiber Networks:
Lightower Fiber Networks is the premier metro fiber and bandwidth provider in the Northeast, offering over 6,400 fiber route miles coupled with comprehensive transport, alternative access, and nationwide long haul services. Lightower's fiber footprint extends from New England, to eastern New York State, New Jersey, Long Island, and New York City. With access to over 2,800 buildings, Lightower offers unparalleled regional density, performance, scalability, security, and reliability in the Northeast. Lightower Fiber is headquartered in Boxborough, MA. For more information, visit www.lightower.com or call 888-LT-FIBER.

About Azzurro HD
Azzurro HD operates the first all-digital, HD-enabled aggregation and switching facility for video content in the USA. Located in "The Hub" at 32 Avenue of the Americas in New York City, the Azzurro HD facility provides all-digital transport and switching, with a clear forward path to serve the growing need for uncompressed HDTV transport. For more information, visit: www.azzurrohd.com

Contact Information:

For Lightower Fiber Networks media inquiries, please contact:
Jaymie Scotto & Associates
+1.866.695.3629


For Azzurro HD media inquiries, please contact:
Jennifer Park
+201.767.0850 Ext. 202