UPN and Hunt Midwest to Provide Fiber-Optic Services to SubTropolis

KANSAS CITY, MO - Unite Private Networks (UPN), a provider of high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and related services, and Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development, Inc. announced a long-term agreement to provide fiber-optic based Ethernet, Internet and dark fiber services at Hunt Midwest SubTropolis underground business complex.

The SubTropolis Technology Center is a 200,000-square foot data center with raised floors and a Tier IV rated structure at no additional cost. The data center receives redundant power from Kansas City Power & Light at electrical costs dramatically lower than other parts of the United States. In addition, the power grid on property can support a future 90MW substation with dual ring-bus configuration.

"The UPN network will provide our tenants, especially e-commerce and business partners, with nearly unlimited bandwidth, giving them network performance to better meet business challenges and maintain a competitive advantage," said Mike Bell, general manager of industrial/commercial for Hunt Midwest. "By deploying a fiber-optic network in our underground facility, SubTropolis will also have the ability to support critical bandwidth-intensive data center applications in a secure environment unmatched by other data center facilities."

The new dark fiber infrastructure in SubTropolis connects directly with Kansas City's 1102 Grand carrier hotel, which interconnects carriers, service providers and enterprise customers. The fiber-optic infrastructure at SubTropolis also supports the IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) networking protocol to interconnect Novell NetWare client and server locations.

In addition to nearly unlimited bandwidth, SubTropolis tenants enjoy low lease rates that are 30 to 50 percent less than above-ground facilities; low utility costs that offer 50 to 70 percent savings in total energy costs; and the largest foreign-trade zone under one roof in the United States. SubTropolis is home to more than 50 local, regional, national and international companies which operate underground and employ more than 1,500 people.