IP begins network build-out

Extending its relationship with Lucent Technologies, IP Communications, a broadband services provider headquartered in Texas, revealed today that it would expand its network to provide voice, data and Internet services from the West Coast to the Midwest.

The $200 million deal is an extension of an already existing agreement between the service provider and vendor, under which Lucent had provided data systems and equipment for IP’s Texas operations. The latest three-year agreement including Lucent’s Stinger DSL access concentrators, PacketStar access concentrators, PSAX 1250, PSAX 2300 and CBX 500 multiservice wide area network switches.

In addition, Lucent will also provide installation, maintenance and monitoring services to implement IP’s network. The two companies have been working together since 1999 when IP rolled out its initial data network and DSL services to Dallas and then expanded to include other areas in Texas, according to Jim Everett, area vice president for central CLECs for Lucent’s emerging service provider division.

Now that IP has decided to expand to provide services to customers from California to the Great Lakes region, Lucent will work with the company to build out one network from which it can provide both voice and data services, he said. “It’ll be an ATM backbone with Stingers on the edge to provide a number of types of DSL services,” he said.

In addition to DSL, IP plans to offer advanced Internet access and remote LAN connections in the small to medium-sized business market.