MegaPath's new symmetrical 2x2 Ethernet service reflects the idea that if you're an SMB, you should have more choices to get more bandwidth than having to buy another expensive T1 circuit.
Customers that sign up will receive an Ethernet over Copper-based service that MegaPath says provides "always-on, dedicated access to fast symmetrical upload and download speeds from their data connection."
Pricing for the service, which is currently available out of 1900 COs, is competitive. When bought as a standalone service, SMBs will pay $259 a month, while those that bundle the Ethernet 2x2 service with MegaPath Hosted Voice will pay $229 a month.
Customers that need more bandwidth have the option of upgrading their service to a symmetric 3x3 Mbps service in addition to a similar product line that can deliver up to 20 Mbps on a limited basis.
Arnaud Gautier, Vice President Product Management, Speakeasy, a MegaPath Brand told FierceTelecom that "the main thrust around this product launch is to get a 2x2 circuit for a lower price than a T1 with the same type of SLA, and we can upgrade that circuit to 3 Mbps as well."
Already offering a suite of traditional DSL and T1 access directly and through channel partners, this latest symmetric service offering is one of the first offerings to be born out of the three-piece merger between MegaPath, Speakeasy and Covad.
By acquiring Covad, which will continue to operate as the CLEC's wholesale, MegaPath got a large Ethernet over Copper network that it can use to target various retail SMB and large enterprise service opportunities.
Gautier said that the overall motivation to launch the new service is a response to the business user's desire for integrated data/voice service bundles.
"From a go to market perspective, the new Ethernet service is very similar to our standard data offering where we have some promotional pricing to entice customers to not only purchase the data, but also voice," he said. "As a combined company, we're really about the triple play, which is nationwide broadband access, voice and managed services and managed security."
For more:
- see the release
Related articles:
Megapath, Covad, Speakeasy complete 3-part merger
MegaPath's triple tier strategyMegaPath conducts free VoIP phone promotion