Vodacom network does double duty

CEN Feature (May 20 2010)

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   As wireless carriers seek to use Carrier Ethernet to boost their backhaul bandwidth to support increased high-speed data traffic, some are maximizing the value of that infrastructure by also using it to support Ethernet services for enterprise users. In South Africa, for example, Vodacom Business recently launched a range of enterprise Ethernet services that leverage a network platform that also supports backhaul connectivity for its parent company, wireless provider Vodacom.

    

   The new Vodacom Business Metro E offerings provide speeds between 2 Mb/s and 1 Gb/s supported by service level agreements. The high bandwidth and reliability that Ethernet can support should give it strong appeal for business customers, particularly those in bandwidth-intensive industries where reliability is critical, such as finance. Enterprise customers also should appreciate the granularity of the Vodacom Business offering. Connections are available in 2 Mb/s increments, enabling customers to closely match connection speeds to capacity required and to pay only for the required bandwidth.

    

   Any service provider with both a wireless and an enterprise business should consider Vodacom’s approach as a way of potentially maximizing the value of their Ethernet network investment. But support for enterprise services should not be an afterthought. Vodacom, for example, laid out its Ethernet network with large business customers in mind, using routes that pass within 50 to 100 meters of many major businesses in South Africa’s largest metro areas.

    

   Vodacom is part owned by global wireless carrier Vodafone. The Vodacom Business unit was launched in 2008.

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