Level 3 launches residential VoIP

Today at NCTA, Level 3 Communications announced it has launched its enhanced voice-over-IP residential services in 50 major markets, completing the first phase of a planned 300-market rollout.

The service is targeted at MSOs and other providers looking to jump into the VoIP market without building out their switching infrastructures. Level 3 provides the local phone numbers, interconnection to the PSTN, local number portability and E-911 functionality, as well as various levels of wholesale local and long-distance plans.

The first phase of the rollout targets large metro markets on both coasts, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Tampa and Orlando. Its remaining phases will complete the rollout in major markets and bring the carrier into smaller and mid-sized areas by year’s end. Today’s launch gives Level 3 access to 16 million households, a number that will increase to 63 million once the rollout is complete.

Level 3 also announced today its first customer for the service: Net2Phone, which will use the Level 3 network to enhance its PacketCable and SIP compliant broadband phone service. While Net2Phone will still handle the billing, provisioning and other back office functions of its service for cable providers, Level 3 will supply the PSTN access, long distance and interconnection services.