SEATTLE, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- 360networks, a facilities-based full service wholesale provider of VoIP, Private Line Transport, IP Transit, and Local Access services, today announced it has deployed private line circuits for SDN Communications, a privately held coalition of South Dakota-based independent telephone companies operating in the eight-state northern plains region. Through this agreement SDN expands services to its business, education, banking, government, and health care customers. In addition, the companies entered into an interconnection agreement, giving 360networks the ability to expand operations in the areas served by SDN.

"SDN continues to see increased demand for broadband services throughout the northern plains states," said Tom Durfee, SDN vice president of network planning and operations. "This agreement with 360networks allows us to quickly expand into markets throughout Montana, Wyoming and Colorado."

360networks deployed its GigE Point-to-Point Private Line Transport service for SDN Communications, providing high capacity data transport for SDN's high bandwidth needs. The Gigabit optical Ethernet interface supports access speeds from 100 Mb to a full GigE (1000 Mb). The service is one of the 360networks wholesale Private Line Transport services which also include Single Point of Interconnection (SPI) T1/DS3, and Point-to-Point DSx, SONET, and Wavelength services. 360networks also plans to launch a Layer 2 Ethernet service later this year.

"As SDN Communications looks to grow with the increased demand for broadband access remote-learning, telemedicine, e-government, and web-based banking services, we are proud to be their wholesale provider of choice for the western United States," said Rick Coma, 360networks senior vice president.

About 360networks

360networks is a full service wholesale provider of VoIP, Private Line Transport, IP, and Local Access (t1/DS3) services, on its wholly owned fiber optic backbone. Its facilities-based network provides deep coverage, spanning over 17,200 miles to tier 1 to 4 western U.S. markets (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Financially stable and a CLEC in 36 states, 360networks enables the nation's voice, data and web-based application and service providers to quickly pursue next generation strategies, migrate from legacy networks, grow into new markets and services, and increase network diversity. www.360networks.com

About SDN Communications

SDN is a coalition of South Dakota's independent telephone companies - cooperatives, family, municipal, and tribal-owned companies. They joined their independent networks in 1989 and created SDN as a hub to deliver long distance choice to the their largely rural customer base. Today that same statewide fiber footprint allows file sharing and Internet traffic for business and government. In addition to business-class broadband service, SDN also offers telephone systems, cabling infrastructure, networking equipment and network surveillance. www.sdncommunications.com

360networks is a registered service mark of 360networks Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

SOURCE 360networks