SBC upgrades optical Ethernet

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: OPTICAL NETWORKING
10/17/05

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* SBC's Optical Ethernet MAN service
* Links related to Optical Networking
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avaya
Network World Executive Guide: Making the Most of Mobility

As the demand for wireless access grows so does the need for
timely information about this technology. The editors of Network
World have put together the following Executive Guide so IT
professionals can take a clear look at mobile standards,
security, what's happening in the field and where mobility is
headed.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=117614
_______________________________________________________________
IS WIMAX REALLY JUST AROUND THE CORNER?

With excitement building about WiMAX, you might be surprised
that, technically, no real WiMAX products are available yet.
That is, none that meet the 802.16 profile as defined by the
WiMAX Forum and certified compatible by the Forum's appointed
lab in Spain. Will there be products? Click here for more:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=117706
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: SBC upgrades optical Ethernet

By Jim Duffy

SBC has enhanced its optical Ethernet service with improved
service-level agreements, a lower-speed option and a price
reduction.

SBC's Optical Ethernet MAN service (Opt-E-MAN) offers
point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and multipoint-to-multipoint
connectivity for customers interconnecting offices in a
metropolitan area. Opt-E-MAN is a switched service offered in 19
metropolitan areas in SBC's 13-state region.

RBOCs such as SBC are filling out their Ethernet portfolios to
meet demand from corporate customers looking for more
cost-efficient and bandwidth-flexible alternatives to legacy
frame relay, ATM and private line services. BellSouth next year
plans to turn up metropolitan multipoint Ethernet offerings that
support multiple service classes per port to enable more
reliable voice and video transmission for businesses. And
Verizon recently said it plans to add three service classes to
its switched Ethernet services, as well as other enhancements.

One point is Ethernet's lower cost per bit and range of
bandwidth options. Generally, Ethernet costs $900 to $1,000 per
month for 10M bit/sec throughput, seven times the bandwidth of a
1.5M bit/sec, $400- to $500-per-month frame relay T-1. A 100M
bit/sec Ethernet pipe costs about the same as a 45M bit/sec ATM
link - about $5,000 per month.

These economics are helping to drive Ethernet service revenue,
currently at $6 billion, to $20 billion or better by 2008,
according to research firms IDC and Infonetics.

As a further enticement, SBC is improving the SLAs on both
grades of service of Opt-E-MAN, Bronze and Silver. The enhanced
SLAs apply to all three configurations of the service.

The Bronze SLA now limits latency to a delay of no more than 35
millisec one way, down from 65 millisec. For the Silver, jitter
is limited to less than 15 millisec one-way, end-to-end, down
from 20 millisec.

Both service grades have network service availability guarantees
of 99.95%. Packet-delivery rate guarantees are 99.5% for Bronze
and 99.9% for Silver.

Although no timeline for rolling it out exists, SBC also hopes
to offer a Gold tier of service for Opt-E-MAN, says Bob Walter,
SBC executive director of metropolitan data services. "Once
applications catch up with transport we might offer Gold,"
Walters says. "The two grades are now taking care of the
majority of application requirements."

SBC has also lowered the bandwidth and price entry point to
Opt-E-MAN from 10M to 5M bit/sec. The 5M bit/sec rate option
targets low-speed frame and ATM customers.

SBC also lowered the price of Opt-E-MAN services by as much as
56%. For example, a 100M bit/sec port with a 100M bit/sec
committed information rate (CIR) costs $1,775 per month for a
five-year contract, down from $2,925. A 1G bit/sec port with a
1G bit/sec CIR costs $3,425 per month, a 36% drop from the
previous price of $5,350.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine has serious bug
<http://www.networkworld.com/nloptical8623>
2. New WLAN group shakes up standards process
<http://www.networkworld.com/nloptical8858>
3. Windows 2000 vulnerability could lead to new outbreak
<http://www.networkworld.com/nloptical8859>
4. You won't find this book on Oprah's list
<http://www.networkworld.com/nloptical8625>
5. IETF effort promises fewer net failures
<http://www.networkworld.com/nloptical8626>

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Jim Duffy

Jim Duffy is managing editor of Network World's service provider
equipment coverage
<http://www.networkworld.com/topics/service-providers.html>. He
has 18 years of high-tech reporting experience, including over
12 years at Network World. Previously, he was senior editor at
Computer Systems News and associate editor/reporter at
Electronic News and MIS Week. He can be reached at
<mailto:jduffy@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avaya
Network World Executive Guide: Making the Most of Mobility

As the demand for wireless access grows so does the need for
timely information about this technology. The editors of Network
World have put together the following Executive Guide so IT
professionals can take a clear look at mobile standards,
security, what's happening in the field and where mobility is
headed.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=117613
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Optical Networking newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/optical/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE

Network World Technology Insider on Security: Is Encryption the
Perspective?

Encryption won't solve all your security issues but these days
there is no excuse for not safeguarding your organization's
sensitive data. From Clear Choice product coverage to new
regulations and high-profile breaches, this Technology Insider
on Security covers it all. Click here to read now:

<http://www.networkworld.com/nloptical7379>
_______________________________________________________________
May We Send You a Free Print Subscription?
You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered
at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by
receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply
today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2

International subscribers click here:
http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html
_______________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail
newsletters, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx>

To change your e-mail address, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx>

Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to
this message.

This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com
Please use this address when modifying your subscription.
_______________________________________________________________

Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor,
at: <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118
Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772

For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of
Online Development, at: <mailto:sponsorships@nwfusion.com>

Copyright Network World, Inc., 2005