Covad Announces Launch of Nationwide Ethernet Services Program

The new services run VoIP, VPNs, and video conferencing. They can be offered with dedicated Internet access or aggregated with Gigabit Ethernet-based hub aggregation services. 

Covad Communications Company is launching a nationwide Ethernet services program in mid-April. The services were designed to run such applications as voice over IP (VoIP), video gaming, VPNs, and video conferencing, all through multiple traffic-handling options via Quality of Service (QoS) and Class of Service (CoS). They are all backed by service-level agreements.

According to Covad president and CEO Patrick Bennett, Ethernet has become an important part of the company's overall portfolio strategy. "What will differentiate this product in the market are the integrated QoS and CoS options that give our partners immense flexibility in optimizing network performance based on their application requirements," he says.  

Bennett adds that Ethernet extends the availability of higher-bandwidth products while also enabling new, cost-effective Ethernet services at the lower end of the broadband speed curve. "Our new services have been purpose-built to support revenue-generating, value-added services, such as VoIP, video conferencing, VPN, and software as a service," he says.

According to Covad, it continues to invest in its network to create its intelligent broadband services platform, which sports multiple access options. A recent press release from the company states, "Covad Ethernet products can be combined with value-added services, such as MPLS VPNs and QoS/CoS to not only gain new customers, but also facilitate upsell opportunities for existing customers."

The new services can be offered with dedicated Internet access or aggregated with one of Covad's Gigabit Ethernet-based hub aggregation services.

Covad Ethernet services will be available at speeds from 1.5 Mbps to 35 Mbps out of more than 4,000 COs reaching approximately 10 million businesses nationwide.

Covad began testing Ethernet services on a technical level with a limited offering in selected markets last year.