11.20.2015
AT&T receives Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) 2015 excellence awards on enhanced Ethernet solutions
What’s top of mind for businesses and IT administrators? How to get better capacity, faster speeds, and more control. Voice, data, and video traffic are the norm when meeting, connecting data centers, accessing cloud applications, or connecting corporate locations. Customers need more bandwidth to handle this growth. For millions across the globe the answer is Ethernet. That’s why IDC expects U.S. Ethernet revenue to grow from $7 billion in 2014 to $12.1 billion in 2019.(1)
This past year, we made significant enhancements to our Ethernet portfolio. We added virtualization technology to move things from hardware to software. We added new speed offerings. And we expanded our footprint to reach more customers. First, we brought advanced technology – software-defined networking (SDN) – into our AT&T Switched Ethernet ServiceSM offer through our AT&T Network on Demand capability. We’ve put the controls in our customers’ hands so they can get service where they want it and tailor it to their specific needs. They can adjust and control service and bandwidth in near-real time through an online self-service portal. AT&T Switched Ethernet on Demand was widely deployed in April 2015. It is currently available in over 170 U.S. cities.
We have also made our Ethernet services even better. We added speeds up to 100G to our new service, AT&T Dedicated Ethernet. Recently we developed a new feature for AT&T Switched Ethernet Service using our U-verse® broadband network. It lets customers enjoy faster turn-up time (generally 10 days or less) and new symmetrical and asymmetrical speed abilities. They can turn up an entire Ethernet network of potentially hundreds of locations in about 10 days – an industry first!
At AT&T, we deliver premier service, and we work to grow where our customers need us so they can enjoy a virtually seamless network experience where they need it. This past year, we’ve more than doubled our local area Ethernet footprint, and we plan to grow another 30 percent by 2020. We also just completed Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) CE 2.0 E-Access certification testing on our AT&T Switched Ethernet Service. This means that AT&T’s network now supports the industry standard Ethernet interconnection with other Ethernet operators so our customers that cover multi-carrier areas can enjoy virtually seamless network service. We continue to use technologies to offer virtually seamless service for multi-location customers as well as to reach potential new customers.
We are proud of the industry recognition we’re receiving for these enhancements. Last night, we were awarded three MEF 2015 Product Excellence Awards; Best Service Innovation in North America for our new Switched Ethernet on Demand capability; and Best Healthcare Provider and Best Government Solution for our flagship Switched Ethernet Service solution. We also received four distinctions for individual AT&T employees for their excellence and contribution to the greater industry. Eric Puetz was named a MEF Distinguished Fellow in the Professional of the Year category. Last month, Eric, Dan Blemings, and John Siwko were named MEF Outstanding Contributors for their respective contributions on Certification Committee Co-Chair Leadership, Ethernet Interconnect Point (EIP) Project Leadership, and Technical Committee Management and Services Area Projects.
The enhancements made in 2015 are key steps in our journey to becoming an all Ethernet and IP network. At the same time, we’re giving customers what they want, when they want it. Ethernet services lay the foundation for dependable, lightning-fast network performance that can grow with customer needs. And with a range of bandwidth and configuration options that reach gigabit speeds, there’s an Ethernet service to meet those needs — now and in the future.
1 IDC U.S. Carrier Ethernet Services 2015-2019 Forecast
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