Level 3 launches remote access services

Level 3 Communications is turning its vast network of wholesale dial-up POPS to its own advantage, launching one of the nation’s largest business remote access services. Utilizing its 2400 U.S. local access points and local access agreements in 130 countries, Level 3 plans to sell the remote access service as an extension to its VPN offerings through channel partners and resellers.

"We’ve been looking for ways for extend our competitive opportunities with our existing infrastructure," said Dennis Kyle, vice president of switched data services. "Our business customers will be using the same infrastructure that AOL and other carrier customers are dialing into. We’re eating our own caviar, so to speak."

Level 3 runs an estimated one-third of all U.S. dial-up POPs covering 93% of the population and boasts almost every major ISP as a wholesale customer. For the new service, it has optimized the standard managed-modem service it offers those wholesale customers to integrate directly into corporate extranets and intranets using its global network of softswitches. The service also supports broadband connections through DSL, cable and public Wi-Fi hotspots. The service is also optimized with V.92 technology, which allows dial-up customers to interrupt a data-session for voice calling without severing their connections to the network.

Over the last year, Level 3 has become aggressive in developing direct services for enterprises, transforming itself from a wholesale provider to a direct provider. Last month Level 3 began offering Ethernet services and voice-over-IP services. Kyle said the carrier will be making more service announcements in the coming year.