BellSouth Combines Next Gen Optical Services with Advanced Ethernet Capabilities
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LAS VEGAS, March 20 -- BellSouth (NYSE:BLS) announced today that it is enhancing its advanced, self-healing optical services to provide further integration with Ethernet services, extending business continuity capabilities deeper into enterprise customers' operations.
"BellSouth is providing a carrier class solution that enables Layer 1 and Layer 2 Ethernet traffic to be protected by the self healing qualities of SONET infrastructure," said Lee Priest, vice president -- business marketing, BellSouth. "As mission critical IP applications become more prevalent in the enterprise, BellSouth is delivering options to help ensure business continuity for its customers."
BellSouth began evolving its SONET infrastructure to a next-generation Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP) in 2003 and the fourth phase of enhancements will be introduced at the end of this month to better address the Ethernet application requirements of businesses.
SONET is a dedicated, high-capacity network designed to provide increased reliability and functionality among multiple sites. A unique characteristic of SONET is its ability to support a self-healing, fully redundant ring architecture. The network can be described as two diverse paths of fiber between customer locations or, in the case of a telecom carrier network, surrounding an entire city. If a fiber is cut, the signal will travel over the second fiber route. If both fiber paths are cut, the signal reverses and travels around the remaining arc of the loop.
By expanding the Ethernet options available on SONET, failover protection can now be configured to provide protection for Ethernet traffic never before available. Traditional Ethernet products do not offer diversely routed fiber, making the upgrades very important to companies running any Ethernet traffic deemed mission critical.
The unique capabilities of the latest enhancement include two options:
Shared Ethernet LAN over MSPP -- This option allows customers to share data between multiple locations along a self-healing SONET ring without committing a major portion of the ring to accommodate it like a point-to-point arrangement requires. For example, banks and healthcare facilities can now share information between several locations without developing a multitude of costly dedicated circuits. These customers benefit from the business continuity features of fiber ring architecture and can more effectively manage IT budgets.
Metro Ethernet over MSPP -- Metro Ethernet is a local, Layer 2 transport mechanism that allows efficient, high bandwidth communication between locations. MSPP SONET is Layer 1 transport and, prior to this month, Metro Ethernet traffic could not be delivered over SONET infrastructure. Now organizations that use MSPP SONET and Metro Ethernet networks can integrate traffic onto the same fiber ring and benefit from self-healing business continuity capabilities if disaster strikes. For example, large health care systems use MSPP SONET to connect hospitals, but now outlying suburban clinics connected with Metro Ethernet can be cost effectively added to the network through this new option. BellSouth's MSPP SONET offering supports Basic, Premium and Virtual Metro Ethernet services.
"For years, one of BellSouth's greatest strengths has been its deep fiber deployments and the company is clearly utilizing these assets for long term growth as it addresses the robust needs of the enterprise market," said Courtney Munroe, program vice president -- telecom business services, IDC.
For more information about BellSouth voice and data solutions for businesses, visit www.bellsouthlargebusiness.com/ .
About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider with 54.1 million customers.
Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers®, residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular® Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers print and online directory advertising through The Real Yellow Pages® and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) from BellSouth.
BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at www.bellsouth.com/ .
Source: BellSouth
CONTACT: Todd Smith, +1-404-226-8918, todd.smith@bellsouth.com
Web site: www.bellsouth.com/
