Verizon launches Ethernet bandwidth on demand

Verizon Business (NYSE: VZ) today introduced a new service that lets business users of its Ethernet Virtual Private Line service turn bandwidth up and down as needed, and only pay for what they use. The new Verizon Business offering, Verizon EVPL Dynamic Bandwidth, gives enterprises and small-to-medium-sized businesses a simple tool on the Verizon Enterprise Center portal to easily increase or decrease their bandwidth on a pre-scheduled basis or on demand within 60 minutes.

“Customers want more control over their networks and the ability to respond to changes in their bandwidth needs,” said Mike Volgende, Director, Ethernet Services for Verizon Business. “We are the first Tier 1 service provider to standardize this type of service arrangement associated with EVPL, to give customers the ability to deal with a surge in bandwidth requirements – either seasonal or periodic – which is especially important in this economy. Customers are trying to enhance their network performance and applications while at the same time dealing with strained IT budgets. This is a unique and innovative offering that meets the challenge that customers are giving us.”

The service is the latest offering to build on the Verizon Business Ethernet portfolio as part of Verizon’s strategy to offer value-added services on a broad base of Ethernet offerings, Volgende said.

Verizon EVPL Dynamic Bandwidth would enable accounting firms to get more bandwidth during tax season, or allow a medical clinic to only pay for more bandwidth on weekends, when medical files are being backed up at a central location, Volgende said. A sudden spike in traffic caused by an unexpected surge in business or a natural disaster could also be immediately addressed. Changes can be made every 24 hours and will be delivered within 60 minutes, Volgende said.

Business customers will use the Verizon Enterprise Center portal, and a special tool that enables them to choose the amount of bandwidth they need, and designate when it is needed and send that request to Verizon, Volgende said.

Customers can use up to the full amount of bandwidth available on their access pipe. EVPL charges are based on two components, Volgende said, the baseline Ethernet access or UNI and the Ethernet Virtual Channel, or bandwidth. If a customer’s Ethernet access is 100 Megabits per second, then dynamic bandwidth selections are available at any standard EVC speed up to the point, starting at 1 Mbps and including 18 other standard rates.

“Using this service, businesses don’t have to design their networks any longer for their peak usage,” Volgende said. “They can set up the network for their [average] use, and then only buy the extra bandwidth they need for periodic, seasonal and unexpected use on an on-demand basis.”