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Integra Telecom Announces Major Network Upgrade

First Phase of Year-long $28 Million Project Complete.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Feb. 14, 2007 - Integra Telecom, a facilities-based, integrated communications carrier announces the completion of the first phase of its two phase, year-long project to enhance its best-in-class data backbone network and 4,700 mile long-haul network. Phase one represents a $17 million investment since Integra acquired the network assets from Electric Lightwave (ELI) in August 2006. The year-long, $28 million project is the largest single component within the company's projected $50 million 2007 capital budget. Integra anticipates both phases of the project to be completed by mid-2007.

The 4,700-mile long-haul fiber network has been successfully upgraded with state-of-the-art optical equipment to increase network capacity and improve redundancy and reliability. Additionally, Integra/ELI's network technologies have been upgraded with leading industry devices to provide the following improvements:

Full path diversity throughout its Northern and Southern long-haul routes
Increased capacity from 100 to 400 Gigabytes per second (GB/s) and scalability up to 800 GB/s

"Our carrier grade network and signature brand of locally based service provide significant value to our customers. We are eager to enhance our established value with this investment," said Dudley Slater, CEO of Integra Telecom. "This project marks the first of several investments we plan to make to our network as part of our commitment to better serve our customers."

In addition to Integra's phase one network upgrades, the company's data backbone network will face substantial upgrades later this year. Proposed performance improvements include:

10 gig data backbones will be installed to support core routers throughout the network
Aggregation routers will be put in to increase capacity, improve reliability and provide enhanced services for customers
Network designs will be expanded to offer improved Internet availability for all enhanced IP services.

"Our customers continually rate reliability as the number one factor they consider when selecting a telecom and data provider," said Jim Huesgen, president and COO of Integra Telecom. "Integra is committed to building the most reliable network possible. Our latest expansion is one way that we expect to exceed our customers' expectations."

About Integra Telecom

Integra Telecom, Inc. provides voice, data and Internet communications to thousands of business and carrier customers in eight Western states, including: Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The company owns and operates a best-in-class fiber-optic network comprised of eight metropolitan access networks, a nationally acclaimed tier one Internet and data network and a 4,700-mile high-speed long haul network. The company enjoys some of the highest customer loyalty and customer satisfaction ratings in the telecommunications industry. Primary equity investors in the company include Bank of America Capital Investors, Boston Ventures and Nautic Equity Partners. Integra Telecom and Electric Lightwave are registered trademarks of Integra Telecom Inc. For more information, visit www.integratelecom.com.

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