BellSouth moves Sonet network to the next generation

ATLANTA--On the heels of its multi-protocol label switching backbone deployment last month, BellSouth today announced it was augmenting its new IP service portfolio with a next-generation Sonet network.

Using Cisco and Lucent equipment, BellSouth will deploy Multiservice Provisioning Platform upgrades throughout its nine-state footprint, offering regional businesses and enterprises TDM and packet-based managed data and voice services over a redundant platform. BellSouth will use Lucent’s Metropolis DMX Access Multiplexer gear and Cisco’s Complete Optical Multiservice Edge and Transport (COMET) products in the new network design. In addition, Cisco and BellSouth -- as part of a marketing partnership agreement established last year -- agreed to jointly offer IP Telephony, Wi-Fi and optical CPE services to BellSouth’s customers.

BellSouth hailed the announcement as its most significant effort in Sonet technology in almost a decade. A year ago, BellSouth spelled out its plans to attack the integrated data market it believes exists among the enterprises in its footprint. Since then, BellSouth has begun taking away transport and VPN customers from the IXCs, especially businesses and enterprises with the majority of their sites in the BellSouth region. Meanwhile, BellSouth’s larger Bell neighbors have been slow to develop their next-generation network plans.

“By continually improving our network capabilities, we are supercharging the engine that drives our business,” said Bill Smith, BellSouth’s chief product development and technology officer, in a statement. “We’re better able to serve our customers today and evolve our business to serve their needs tomorrow.”

BellSouth gave no specifics about when the upgraded Sonet network would go online or when services would be commercially available. However, BellSouth announced its MPLS network a full five months after it was completed and two months after it became operational.