Lumos Networks Sees Solid Enterprise Demand Trends in Recently Launched Hampton Roads/Norfolk Fiber Market

Announces Department of Energy’s Jefferson Lab as New Enterprise Customer in this Expansion Market

#37 Largest MSA in the U.S. Represents Nearly $100m in Total Enterprise Addressable Market

WAYNESBORO, Va.--()--Lumos Networks Corp. (“Lumos Networks” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LMOS), a leading fiber-based service provider in the Mid-Atlantic region, expects to continue to benefit from positive Enterprise demand trends in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk, Virginia market. The Company recently completed a 270 route mile dense fiber build in this market as part of its 822 route mile expansion in the State of Virginia.

The 822 route mile expansion was fully completed several months ahead of the initial plan, and, in conjunction with our recently expanded metro Richmond market, was underpinned by a 257 unique Fiber to the Cell (“FTTC”) site 13 year contract with a national U.S. wireless operator. The Company expects that the Hampton Roads/Norfolk market will be a key contributor towards its target of doubling its annual Enterprise revenue to approximately $100 million over the next five years.

“We are excited to name the Department of Energy’s Jefferson Lab as a new Enterprise customer in our Hampton Roads/Norfolk market and we look forward to growing with them over time as their bandwidth connectivity demands increase,” said Timothy G. Biltz, CEO of Lumos Networks.

“The Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab is a research facility accessed by more than 1,500 scientists worldwide to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus," said Bryan Hess, Network Manager at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Va. "We needed additional high-speed internet connectivity to ensure our facility is accessible even during planned or unplanned outages of our primary link. Lumos Networks provided a diverse physical path for that service."

Mr. Biltz continued, “In the first half of 2016, the Norfolk/Hampton Roads market contributed 20% of the Company’s direct enterprise new sales and we expect to gain further market share as we head into 2017. This advanced fiber network now has full redundancy and has an average fiber density of approximately 165 fiber strands.”

Mr. Biltz added, “We see strong end market demand trends from both of our Enterprise channels: Enterprise direct and Carrier End User, which is our wholesale partnership program. Our sales force has benefited from activity across many of our key industry verticals, including data centers, healthcare, government, education, media and financials. We are also excited about the potential demand activity generated from multiple undersea cables that are expected to land in Virginia Beach, within ½ mile of our network, over the next 18 months.”

William D. Sessoms, Jr., Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia, said, “Access to high speed communications infrastructure is critical as we diversify our economy. This investment by Lumos strengthens our region's ability to connect users with the world in ways that could just be imagined 5 years ago, which makes us an even more attractive location for entrepreneurs and other innovative businesses.”

“EdgeConneX serves many of the world’s most demanding technology companies and a key component to our success is the quality of the network infrastructure connecting our Edge Data Centers®. The completion of this build by Lumos Networks offers EdgeConneX customers access to a resilient and diverse fiber network that can keep pace with their insatiable demand for more bandwidth,” comments Clint Heiden, chief commercial officer, EdgeConneX. “This network allows our customers to take advantage of new diversity and low latency routes, while adding the option for connectivity to cable landing stations in the future.”

In June of 2016, Lumos Networks, in conjunction with a leading third party research firm, completed a two-month refresh analysis that demonstrated the rapid growth of the annual addressable market within one mile of the Company’s network since the completion of our inaugural study in November of 2014. This previously disclosed refreshed analysis demonstrates an addressable market of nearly $100 million within one mile of the Company’s network in its Norfolk/Hampton Roads market, up about 50% since the Company’s initial study. Overall, the Company’s network expansion into both Hampton Roads/Norfolk and Richmond increases the company’s total addressable market by about $221 million, or a 67% increase versus its core markets.

Lumos Norfolk Sales Office, opening October 31, 2016:
Armada Hoffler Tower
222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 1810
Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Please contact John Dellinger, Sales Manager for the Hampton Roads region, at 757-510-6500 and DellingerJ@LumosNet.com.

About EdgeConneX®

EdgeConneX® is the only global Edge Data Center® provider. Creating purpose-built, edge-of-network infrastructure solutions that extend the internet’s reach, EdgeConneX enables the fastest and most secure delivery of content, cloud services and applications. Edge Data Centers host bandwidth intensive and latency sensitive data closer to end-users, establishing a more secure, reliable and cost effective distribution model for the internet. For more information, please visit the EdgeConneX Internet of Everywhere® at edgeconnex.com.

About Lumos Networks

Lumos Networks is a leading fiber-based service provider in the Mid-Atlantic region serving Carrier, Enterprise and Data Center customers, offering end-to-end connectivity in 24 markets in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Kentucky. With a fiber network of 8,985 fiber route miles and more than 436,000 total fiber strand miles, Lumos Networks connects 1,295 unique Fiber to the Cell sites, 1,636 total FTTC connections, 36 data centers, including 7 company owned co-location facilities, 1,922 on-net buildings and over 3,200 total on-net locations. In 2015, Lumos Networks generated over $114 million in Data revenue and over $51 million in Adjusted EBITDA over our fiber network. Detailed information about Lumos Networks is available at www.lumosnetworks.com.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE COMPANY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any statements contained in this presentation that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “may,” “will” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect, among other things, our current expectations, plans and strategies, and anticipated financial results, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many of these risks are beyond our ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important factors with respect to any such forward-looking statements, including certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: rapid development and intense competition with resulting pricing pressure in the telecommunications and high speed data transport industry; our ability to grow our data business on an organic or inorganic basis in order to offset expected revenue declines in legacy voice and access products; our ability to obtain new carrier contracts or expand services under existing carrier contracts at competitive pricing levels to offset churn and achieve revenue growth from our carrier businesses; our ability to divest our legacy business on a timely basis; our ability to effectively allocate capital and timely implement network expansion plans necessary to accommodate organic growth initiatives; our ability to complete customer installations in a timely manner; adverse economic conditions; operating and financial restrictions imposed by our senior credit facility and our unsecured debt obligations; our cash and capital requirements; our ability to maintain and enhance our network; the potential to experience a high rate of customer turnover; federal and state regulatory fees, requirements and developments; our reliance on certain suppliers and vendors; and other unforeseen difficulties that may occur. These risks and uncertainties are not intended to represent a complete list of all risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, and should be read in conjunction with the more detailed cautionary statements and risk factors included in our SEC filings, including our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.

Contacts

Lumos Networks Corp.
Will Davis
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Investor Relations
Chief of Staff
(c) 917-519-6994
davisw@lumosnet.com

Contacts

Lumos Networks Corp.
Will Davis
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Investor Relations
Chief of Staff
(c) 917-519-6994
davisw@lumosnet.com