FairPoint adds CoS, Layer-2 control features to its wholesale Ethernet service line

FairPoint Communications (Nasdaq: FRP) is capitalizing on next week's COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2014 Convention & EXPO to show off three new enhancements for its wholesale E-Line Carrier Ethernet Services (CES) product line.

The three new E-Line CES enhancements, which will be available later this month out of its Carrier Ethernet Services (CES)-enabled Central Offices (COs), include: multi-class of service (CoS) over a single Ethernet virtual connection, jumbo frames and Layer 2 Control Protocols (L2CP).

Customers can use the Multi-Class of Service over a single Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC) to prioritize traffic types and dynamic bandwidth, thereby customizing bandwidth to suit their network needs.

With the advent of Jumbo Frames, FairPoint's E-Line CES will now support a Maximum Frame Size (MTU) of 2,000 bytes over copper facilities and 9,000 bytes over fiber facilities. Finally, the FairPoint will forward L2CPs through the network upon request for fiber-based networks.

Tony Tomae, executive vice president and chief revenue officer, said in a release that "these CES enhancements "allow FairPoint to provide the additional flexibility and reliability the wholesale market demands."

Ethernet overall was a big part of FairPoint's growth in the fourth quarter of 2013, contributing about $18.2 million of revenue, up from $13.3 million in the same period a year ago due to 60.1 percent year-over-year growth in retail and wholesale Ethernet circuits. It ended the quarter with a total of 9,517 Ethernet circuits, including 4,651 retail and 4,866 circuits that it sells to wireless operators and other carriers.

For more:
- see the release

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