Covad partners with AT launches marketing blitz

Covad Communications has signed an exclusive DSL wholesale deal with AT&T, providing broadband access to both AT&T business and consumer divisions, Covad’s CEO Charles Hoffman said this week.

AT&T now joins Sprint among Covad’s major carrier customers with exclusive contracts. In addition, AOL and Earthlink both use Covad lines for their broadband offerings.

Covad also kicked off a major marketing push to promote its fledgling consumer and enterprise sales divisions. Hoffman said Covad expects to generate 30% of its revenues from direct sales by the end of 2003, while still bolstering its primary wholesale business. The $15 million marketing campaign kicked off in select cities last month, and is targeting dial-users on the residential side and enterprises on other carrier’s broadband service.

The competitive carrier also retooled its tiered pricing structure, offering one package, which undercuts most dial-up service plans for the first three months. --Kevin Fitchard, staff writer.