New Edge adds CoS to MPLS

New Edge Networks today announced new class-of-service features for its nationwide multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, aimed at helping the EarthLink subsidiary compete more aggressively for business services.

By adding five classes of service, New Edge will allow customers to prioritize traffic to support voice and video services as well as different types of data applications over a single IP-based virtual private network (VPN). The five classes of service are real time, interactive, enhanced, business class and best effort.

“What we are seeing in the marketplace and what we continue to see over the last several years are new applications and a very dynamic IT environment," said Brett Theiss, director of product management. “Network managers are trying to do a lot more and be more productive with less on the resource side. This service allows them to be more productive with single facilities.”

Adding CoS also allows New Edge to use its national network footprint to compete more effectively, said Greg Grifftiths, vice president of marketing.

“The reality is that our footprint allows us to compete with anybody right now,” he said. “We’re smart. We are not going to go right up against AT&T and Verizon for the large enterprise group. Where we think we will add value is in the businesses with two to 40 locations, outside of the retail space where we already compete. We are moving into verticals like transportation, financial service, manufacturing and professional services. We have an ideal product that targeted retailers that had stores spread out throughout the country. There are 3200 retailers with more than 20 locations. When we went out and looked for companies that fit in the two-to-40-location sweet spot. There are 36,000 customers. We can play in that segment and really go to town.”

New Edge will bring the experience it acquired in focusing on the retail segment to its broader focus, Griffiths added.

“Every time we have a success, we profile it so we understand it,” he said. “We are looking for ways to differentiate and there are lots of things we can do within each vertical.”

The network investment to deliver CoS over the IP-MPLS backbone represents EarthLink’s commitment to its new data services subsidiary that was promised at the time of the acquisition, finalized in April.

“EarthLink has delivered on everything they promised us,” he said. “We’ve gotten more people, and an infusion of capital to do things on our network and through product development. We are upgrading the core, adding capacity on our routes, and we are adding redundancy and rolling out new products and the type of facilities.”

New Edge made today’s announcement at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C.

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