Hi all - from informationweek
** AT&T Launches Optical Metro-Area Net Service
AT&T has launched UltraAvailable Broadband Network, a managed
all-optical metro-area network service designed to link companies'
citywide sites using a quickly scalable and huge-capacity fiber
foundation.
AT&T's network-integration and professional-services unit will do risk
assessment as well as design, engineer, install, and monitor of the
fiber infrastructure. Nortel Networks Corp.'s dense wavelength
division multiplexers will support the service.
The service is the first advanced optical metro network offered by a
major telco. Smaller rivals such as Yipes Inc. and Metromedia Fiber
Networks Inc. offer competing packages. With the AT&T service,
customers buy a wavelength on a fiber strand and can have other
wavelengths turned on in days. The service is available now in
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington and
can be offered on a custom basis in other cities. AT&T was unclear
about its rollout plans. Pricing for a five- to 10-year contract
ranges from $10 million to $100 million, according to AT&T.
"We're convinced corporations will be buying wavelengths on a fiber
strand before long" from big-name vendors, says Forrester Research
analyst Maribel Dolinov. "But that's assuming AT&T can meet the
marketing challenge of selling a progressive and advanced optical
service. They need to focus on firms with huge existing or perceived
traffic increases." - Bob Wallace
[note: this comes from my newsletter inbox, no link]
best, Bosco |
