ARLINGTON, Tex., Oct. 6, 1998 (PRIMEZONE)-- FWT, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of communication infrastructure products, announced today that it has secured a $12 million turnkey operations contract from Electric Lightwave, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELIX). FWT will perform site feasibility, permitting and zoning, site engineering and construction, and installation of shelter sites for use in Electric Lightwave's western fiber-optic SONET-ring networks.
"This transaction marks an important transition of FWT into a turnkey provider of a full range of services and high-quality manufacturing, which meets the needs of sophisticated telecommunications companies," said Doug Standley, president and chief executive officer of FWT. "We are delighted that Electric Lightwave is relying upon FWT for creating a solution to house its crucial fiber-optic networks. Electric Lightwave came to us with a need for not only superior manufacturing, but a total solutions approach to deploying its infrastructure."
"Our relationship with FWT is effective and dynamic as we enter into the project implementation stage, and the partnership is functioning well," said Mohammed Khan, director of engineering project management at Electric Lightwave. "FWT's shelters, which are self-contained metal structures built according to stringent manufacturing guidelines, will be installed throughout Electric Lightwave's network to house and protect fiber-optic regeneration equipment. Electric Lightwave uses these sites to amplify and restructure the signal along the network."
"This is another example of providing our customers with innovative, turnkey solutions - a standard of superior performance we will continue to aim toward at FWT," added Mr. Standley of FWT.
FWT said that it will continue to focus on turnkey operations contracts in the multi-billion dollar fiber-optic market as well as the wireless industry, which both represent significant potential markets for expansion.
Electric Lightwave Inc., headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., is an integrated communications provider offering data, Internet access and broadband transport services to businesses nationwide. In the western U.S., the company is a full-service provider offering local and long distance telephone service, videoconferencing and prepaid services to business customers. World Wide Web address: www.eli.net.
Founded in 1959, FWT, Inc. is based in Arlington, Texas. The Company's products are used in the cellular PCS, enhanced specialized mobile radio, paging radio and television broadcasting, fiber optics and microwave industries. FWT designs, manufactures, and markets a complete line of communications infrastructure products including monopoles, guyed and self-supported towers, disguised sites, communication sites on wheels, shelters and cabinets. FWT has introduced the innovative PowerMount(tm), an antenna system that fits on existing electrical transmission towers. The TREE-CELL(tm) is a monopole that looks like a tree and is currently available in palm and pine. The company has more that 14,000 installations worldwide and employs 350 in two Fort Worth locations.
Forward-looking statements herein are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as the Company "believes," "expects," "anticipates," or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives, estimates or goals are forward-looking statements. Certain important factors could cause results to differ from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made herein, including high level of and restrictions imposed by debt, ability to implement such initiatives, dependence on the wireless communications industry, fluctuations in quarterly results and competition. All persons are directed to the information contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K.