Sprint (NYSE: S) may be more known these days as a wireless powerhouse, but its move to expand its Ethernet service footprint into 65 markets shows its dedication to the wireline segment.
While Sprint might not have the same Ethernet presence of AT&T (NYSE: T) or Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Monnie McGaffigan, vice president of wireline, international and strategic alliances for Sprint, said they are "definitely seeing demand for Ethernet access service."
Currently, Sprint offers its Ethernet access service in 40 domestic U.S. markets and 37 international countries.
By the end of 2011, Sprint hopes to achieve three goals with its Ethernet expansion plan: launch new domestic markets, deepen its penetration in existing markets, and expand its global Ethernet footprint farther in Q1 2012.
Along with expanding its market availability, Sprint has added a series of dedicated and aggregated speeds to its growing Ethernet service portfolio. Ranging from as low as 2 Mbps and scaling as high as 10 Gbps, eligible businesses will be able to choose from 18 aggregated speeds and 16 dedicated speeds.
McGaffigan said that Sprint will also add new optical-based Ethernet services, including Ethernet Private Line (EPL) and Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) in addition to some of the innovations Sprint has developed for all of its wireless and wireline networks under its Network Vision initiative.
"Ethernet Private Line, Ethernet Virtual Private Line and Ethernet LAN will all be in the portfolio next year," she said, adding that "we are looking to leverage some of the work Sprint is doing on Network Vision to leverage some of the same assets for our Ethernet build."
For more:
- see the release
Special report: 2011 Women in Wireline
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