Despite whatever attractive content it may offer, a dot-com firm is doomed to failure if it cannot provide its customers with quick and smooth access to data through its Web site.

Securing a smooth flow of large volumes of data, however, is no easy task, especially for cash-scarce startups. And this is exactly where Yoshiaki Matsuda, president of AboveNet Japan K.K., finds growth potential for his business.

The Japanese affiliate of AboveNet Communications Inc., a Silicon Valley-based major Internet data center (iDC) operator, manages servers and other core facilities for such companies, thereby, enabling them to concentrate their resources on developing content.