SBC launches channelized T1 services

Trying to keep pace with competitive carriers, SBC is launching its own bundled service offering, selling long distance, local voice, frame relay data networking, and Internet access over channelized T-1 lines.

SBC this week launched its new Integrated Access Service in its Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell territories and plans to launch the service in the Ameritech and SNET regions in January. Looking for a way differentiate itself from CLECs, SBC is allowing customers to tailor individual channels for their specific needs, allotting as many channels as they like to voice, Internet or frame relay. In states where SBC has received regulatory approval to offer long distance, SBC will offer both switched and dedicated long distance.

“This is really a competitive response,” said Drew Thomas, director of SBC’s integrated access division. “I don’t think any Bell Operating Company would naturally evolve to offer this type of service, since we have always offered the services separately. The CLECs, however, have had success with bundled services.”

Thomas said SBC is taking a different approach than most CLECs though. Instead of targeting a specific market segment and tailoring services to that niche, SBC is targeting a specific type of physical profile -- any office or entity with 8 to 22 phone lines. These could be anything from grocery stores to start-up businesses to regional branch offices for large corporations, Thomas said. Though each businesses needs may be different, the IAS offering gives them 24 channels to allot to those specific needs, Thomas said.

“As an incumbent we already serve all segments,” Thomas said. “There’s no need for us to target a specific niche.”