Integra Telecom would like to get Ethernet to as many customers in its footprint as possible, but it's realistic that despite its aggressive fiber strategy, the CLEC can't bring fiber to every building either.
To extend its Ethernet capabilities to more customers where fiber is not currently available, Integra is expanding its Ethernet over Copper (EoC) capabilities by deploying Overture Networks' EoC and EoTDM portfolio across 120 of its COs.
With the Overture gear, Integra will continue to deliver EoC services in 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 Mbps increments. Similar to PAETEC, Integra also plans to leverage the Overture EoC technology to offer a 100 Mbps offering this year.
"We recently announced a further evolution of our Ethernet capabilities in our footprint from our fiber-based Ethernet services and now expanding that to using Ethernet over Copper-based services and Ethernet over TDM," said Steve Zimba, CMO, Integra Telecom, in a recent interview with FierceTelecom. "The whole strategy behind this is we want to reach as many customers as we can of all sizes, but with a more specific focus on enterprise customers with Ethernet capabilities."
Along with its EoC moves, Integra Telecom continues to be very aggressive on delivering fiber-based Ethernet to what it describes as local regional enterprise customers, including hospitals, multi-location retailers and schools (traditional school districts and colleges).
During the first half of 2011, Integra increased fiber-fed buildings by 20 percent--or by about 300 buildings.
In July alone, the competitive Ethernet delivery provider connected 40 buildings in six different markets to fiber. Of the buildings connected last month, 23 are new locations and 17 are existing sites that upgraded to fiber.
Zimba emphasized that despite Integra's fiber-based Ethernet drive, having a full Ethernet portfolio that includes EoC and EoTDM will help it address a broader spectrum of SMB and enterprise customer needs.
"We know that our lit building footprint, which is growing rapidly, but even with that we still can't reach everybody with fiber so it makes sense to deliver these capabilities over copper and TDM," he said.
For more:
- see the release
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