BellSouth announces MDU partnership

BellSouth today announced a new partner in its effort to connect multi-dwelling units to its bundled service network. MDU Communications International signed a three-year teaming agreement to jointly work with the Southeastern U.S. company in selling and installing voice, data and satellite video services in packages targeting MDUs.

The partnership is part of BellSouth Community Technologies, a new business unit designed to address the specific need of MDUs, including condos and apartments, and master-planned housing communities.

“MDU is a satellite system operator, and it installs the dishes and the coaxial cable,” said Phil Jacobs, president of BellSouth Community Technologies. “They are one of two or three partners we will have in this area.”

The new sales initiative addresses the fact that MDUs and master planned communities represent bulk sales of consumer services that have differing requirements from individual consumer sales or business sales.

BellSouth and MDU will jointly develop and present service packages to condominium boards and building owners to enable them to offer residents a package of services that includes voice, data, video and wireless service, he said. They will also provide in-building wiring installation that addresses the issue of common areas and efficient deployment of wiring needed for advanced service.