Scottsdale, AZ May 21, 2010 - Sparkplug Communications, a provider of wireless business broadband voice and data services based in Scottsdale, Ariz., today announced that it will be expanding its wireless broadband presence in Arizona through the acquisition of certain business assets from MetroBridge Networks, a Vancouver, B.C. based public company.
Under the terms of the newly signed definitive agreement, Sparkplug will acquire MetroBridge's assets operating in Phoenix, Ariz. including all customer contracts, network infrastructure and related assets. This acquisition will contribute immediate positive EBITDA to the company and provide deeper coverage in Mesa and South Phoenix. It will also increase Sparkplug's Points of Presence (PoPs) in the Valley by 33 percent and bolster its customer base by 13%.
"We continually look for opportunities to drive better market penetration and integrating MetroBridge into our network broadens our technology footprint in the Valley significantly." said Sparkplug CEO Michael Ruley. "The acquisition was funded by a recent divestiture of Sparkplug assets in Chicago and Nashville, which is the second step in our aggressive growth plans to reshape our territory as a strong regional player. You can expect to see similar momentum continue from Sparkplug in the future as we continue building market share."
The acquisition is expected to close by the end of second quarter 2010, contingent upon customary conditions.
MetroBridge's Phoenix customers can expect the same enterprise-grade wireless broadband service delivery, plus new-to-market hosted VoIP (voice over internet protocol), IP trunking solutions and Sparkplug's newly available bundled packages.
Sparkplug is one of the only dedicated broadband providers in Arizona to have a privately owned last mile, where over 90% of landline/cable downtime occurs. Sparkplug's Business Complete© package provides a diverse voice/data solution that automatically reroutes voice/data traffic through a backup circuit in seconds. The managed failover option helps the average business afford to integrate unmatched uptime reliability for bundled voice and data needs previously out of reach for their business. The new failover technology was launched by Sparkplug in early April of 2010, and is among the first of its kind in the Southwest. For more information on Sparkplug, its products and current discounts available through bundled services, please visit its website at www.sparkplug.net.
About Airband
Airband Communications, Inc., is the largest fixed-wireless broadband provider for businesses in the U.S. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-speed data, Voice over IP, security and other managed solutions -- delivered over one of the industry's most scalable last-mile networks. Airband bypasses the local phone company to provide faster provisioning intervals, immediate scalability and complete redundancy for its customers. Thousands of businesses nationwide already count on Airband for their broadband service. For more information, please visit www.airband.com.
About Sparkplug
Sparkplug is a leading fixed wireless broadband service provider currently operating networks across five states, including the metropolitan markets of Des Moines, Phoenix and Las Vegas. The company offers a suite of high-speed data, voice over IP, and other managed services over its own network to business, education and government customers. All enjoy the benefits of fast, scalable and easy-to-deploy broadband service. Customers can choose from a complete range of symmetrical bandwidth service options starting at 2 Mbps with speeds up to 1 Gbps at a fraction of the typical cost. The company also provides high capacity data services and transport to many of the nation's leading telecommunications providers. For more information, visit www.sparkplug.net
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Tony Katsulos
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