Virgin Radio Tunes in to AboveNet

LONDON, 3 May, 2006 – AboveNet Communications UK Ltd., a leading provider of fibre connectivity solutions for business and a subsidiary of AboveNet Inc., today announced it has completed the connectivity of Virgin Radio’s Golden Square studio to London’s Telehouse facility in the Docklands.

This connection, a fully managed, 100Mbps service over private dedicated optical fibre (AboveNet’s Metro-Express service) will enable Virgin Radio, one of the UK's most listened to, commercial radio stations with over 7 million listeners, to transfer broadcast content between the two sites seamlessly. This new dedicated service will ensure maximum reliability and security of data and will provide a platform on which Virgin Radio’s radio station will be able to increase exponentially its content transport over time, without ever needing to install new circuits.

As the upsurge in Internet usage continues to rise within the media and entertainments sectors, the demand for high capacity network solutions increases. The ability to increase audience size as well as geographical reach makes the reliability and usability of fibre networks more important than ever before. The combination of security, scalability, and cost-effectiveness were key factors in Virgin Radio’s selection criteria when choosing AboveNet as its network provider.

David Jones, Head of Technology Services at Virgin Radio said, “In today’s age of evolving media technology, content transportation is a mission critical requirement within the media and broadcasting industry. AboveNet’s Metro-Express service offered a competitive, robust solution, delivering premium networking power that met our immediate networking requirements, yet at the same time offered a flexible, scalable platform, providing us with enough support for any future growth. Virgin Radio selected AboveNet because it offered competitive pricing, for a private optical solution, all delivered with a fast turnaround.”

“By continuing to do what we do best, which is providing the highest quality fibre networks and solutions, we have seen a huge increase in customers specifically within the media, entertainment and broadcasting sectors,” said John Dowbiggin, MD of AboveNet UK. “I am delighted to be working with a household name like Virgin Radio and am positive that AboveNet can only aid and support their continued growth.”

AboveNet is already directly serving many of the top media and entertainment companies and its relationship with Virgin Radio continues to strengthen its profile in this highly competitive, bandwidth intensive sector.

About AboveNet, Inc.
AboveNet, Inc. provides fibre connectivity solutions for businesses. Its private optical network delivers key network and IP services in and between 14 top U.S. metro markets and London. AboveNet’s network is widely used in demanding markets such as financial services, where the majority of top investment banks and 5 of the top 10 U.S. banks rely on AboveNet for mission critical services.

About Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio is the UK’s only commercial rock and pop music station. It can be heard on 105.8FM in London, on 1215AM nationwide, on any DAB Digital radio, via Sky Digital and the cable TV networks and via WorldSpace. Virgin Radio is the world’s most listened to station on the internet and can be heard at www.virginradio.co.uk. Virgin Radio is wholly owned by SMG plc.

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This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control. This also includes such factors as are described from time to time in the SEC reports filed by AboveNet, Inc. including the most recently filed Forms S-3 and 8-K.