BellSouth Extends Metro Ethernet to Southeastern Network VPN Customers

BellSouth Corp. on Wednesday announced extended Ethernet coverage for access to business IP services, linking DSL, private line, frame relay, ATM and metro Ethernet connections onto a single corporate network. The company integrated Metro Ethernet as an access option on a limited basis in 2004 and now has expanded this capability throughout the Southeast.

BellSouth Managed Network VPN service utilizes MPLS to allow internetworking of multiple access methods across networks to provide consistent customer experience in any service location, the company said.

"Integrating metro Ethernet access with BellSouth's MPLS-based Network VPN solution expands the networking options available to customers," said Martin Chandler, vice president of product management for business markets at BellSouth. "BellSouth continues to enhance its Network VPN solution to enable businesses to support a broad base of enterprise applications in a managed environment."

BellSouth metro Ethernet service can be used throughout the Southeast as an access method to Network VPN at speeds of 10mbps, 20mbps, 50mbps, 100mbps, 250mbps and 500mbps. The company said it plans to integrate its recently announced mid-band Ethernet speed options of 2mbps, 4mbps and 8mbps later this year.

BellSouth Managed Network VPN’s MPLS-based IP routing creates a full mesh data network, which allows each customer site to communicate directly with any of the other locations, conserving headquarters bandwidth for corporate functions, the company said.

Network VPN includes class-of-service options that allow businesses to assign higher priority to VoIP, video and imaging applications. BellSouth Managed Network VPN customers can designate traffic into four different classes: real time, interactive, priority business and best effort. Real-time and interactive classes are suitable for applications that have a low tolerance for delays, such as voice and video. Priority business and best effort are used to distinguish higher priority business data from noncritical applications such as e-mail and general Web surfing, the company said.

BellSouth Corp. www.bellsouth.com

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