CenturyLink strengthens SMB bond with new managed Wi-Fi service

CenturyLink is giving its small to medium business (SMB) customers another way to better manage their internet connectivity with its new Business Wi-Fi service bundle.

Leveraging Cisco’s Meraki wireless technology, Business Wi-Fi is a managed service that includes real-time monitoring and analytics to help businesses better connect with their customers.

Business Wi-Fi provides an enterprise-grade Wi-Fi solution with fast deployment, simple administration and increased visibility into network users. Besides offering network transport, CenturyLink provides Cisco Meraki access points and software licenses (eight access points per location for up to five locations), access to Meraki’s cloud-based dashboard and 24/7 operational support.

RELATED: CenturyLink addresses SD-WAN, Wi-Fi monitoring with Cisco-based managed enterprise service

By using the dashboard, customers can view their networks and configure SSID authentication; segment guest traffic from secure traffic, as well as prioritize and throttle specific applications; issue SSID name and password changes; monitor wireless health and connectivity; and leverage client- and location-based analytics to better serve connecting clients.

CenturyLink WiFi
CenturyLink Business Wi-Fi

 

 

 

CenturyLink says these integrated analytics provide actionable insights to businesses, which can be leveraged to deliver increased value to their customers.

The managed Wi-Fi service is also available to the company’s Alliance program partners.

Business Wi-Fi is just one of a host of new services CenturyLink has developed for its SMB customer base. Previously, CenturyLink launched CenturyLink Business VoIP for small business customers, a plug-and-play service that delivers premium phone features for a flat monthly service rate. In June, CenturyLink introduced CenturyLink Managed Enterprise with Cisco Meraki.

CenturyLink’s move to enhance its managed service set for SMBs comes at a time when it is trying to not only win over new customers, but also prevent existing ones from churning over to cable operators such as Comcast, which is also aggressively advancing its own managed service sets.