- Integration of Metro Ethernet and Shared LAN Services with MSPP SONET
Provides Greater Protection for Mission Critical Data -
LAS VEGAS, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 http://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(R), 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(R) 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(R) 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
http://www.bellsouth.com .
SOURCE BellSouth
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http://www.bellsouth.com
Company News On-Call:
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CONTACT:
Todd Smith, +1-404-226-8918,
todd.smith@bellsouth.com
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