XO to Extend Ethernet From 9,000 to 12,000 Feet
Looking to reach a broader business base, XO Communications (XOHO) is preparing to extend the reach of its Carrier Ethernet service from 9,000 to 12,000-foot distances.
The operator said this will enable it to reach roughly 30 percent more businesses with the widely popular Ethernet service. The move is part of a larger effort to broaden the appeal that includes recently adding access methods such as wireless.
XO plans to formally announce the achievement in the weeks ahead and further extol the virtues of the longer reach at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Boston.
Invented in 1973 as a means to connect computers, Ethernet technology has been widely deployed as an enabling technology for WAN services. It’s popular primarily because it’s a proven interface and enables the delivery of bandwidth well beyond several T-1s more cost-effectively and more efficiently for carriers.
The challenge for Ethernet services has been expanding their reach to more and more businesses, typically ones located farther away from current subscribers. XO and other providers are keenly focused on this issue.
“The next wave of Ethernet is delivering high-bandwidth products to more of the business population said Chris Peck, senior manager of sales and engineering support for indirect channels at XO, in a recent interview. He and top executives from AboveNet Inc., American Telesis Inc. and Datatel Solutions will discuss Ethernet services as part of a panel at the Channel Partners show.
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