SureWest taps General Bandwidth for VoIP service

General Bandwidth announced that SureWest Communications is using its G6 VoIP Media Gateway to deliver voice over IP services to residential and business broadband customers in the Sacramento/Roseville corridor.

SureWest, which operates as both an incumbent and a CLEC, is using the gateway in both its fiber-to-the-home and DSL networks where it is providing triple-play services. Ironically, the voice element of the service has been one of the bigger selling points for CLEC customers, according to Thomas Villa, general manager of residential services for SureWest.

"We’re able offer things like local calling into the Sacramento," Villa said.

On the business side, the platform will serve as a launching point for advanced voice services. Indeed, General Bandwidth’s strength has traditionally been on the business side of the VoIP market where quality of service is required.

"Initially the product was just for the fiber-to-the-premises opportunity, but they also found that they could deploy the pure TDM/circuit replacement," said Brendon Mills, president and CEO of General Bandwidth.

General Bandwidth, which also has a contract to provide the G6 to SBC, is making headway into the residential market where best effort service is the norm, Mills said.

"We’ve typically been more on the business side, but in 2005 I think you’ll see us finally start to penetrate the Vonage-type accounts."