Breaking the LATA barrier: Bell Atlantic taps IXC for the missing link

Bell Atlantic will no longer have to turn away customers interested in asynchronous transfer mode connections to distant locations. Through a new agreement, IXC Communications will provide interLATA ATM transport for Bell Atlantic Carrier Services and will arrange last-mile connections with a local telco at the other end.

The move should better position Bell Atlantic against unregulated competitors that are not restricted from offering interLATA service.

"It doesn't sound good to sophisticated data users when we say, 'We can only go from point A to point B,'" said Evelyn Gaines, fast packet product manager for Bell Atlantic Carrier Services. "This improves our product portfolio and enhances our ability to deliver services to our customers."

Unless a customer requests a single bill, they will receive one bill from Bell Atlantic and another from IXC.

IXC sees the Bell Atlantic deal as an opportunity to make contact with new customers, said Dominick DeAngelo, IXC senior vice president of Internet services. "Customers will know we are the long-distance provider for that service," said DeAngelo.

Although Bell Atlantic will not be able to monitor IXC's network, Gaines and DeAngelo said the two companies will closely coordinate their operations centers.

"We're proactive as opposed to reactive," added Gaines.

Bell Atlantic envisions 20% to 30% growth in service by extending ATM capabilities beyond the LATA, Gaines said.

The regionwide rollout follows trials in Newark, N.J., and Gaithersburg, Md.