DC08-341 October 02, 2008
BT launches Etherflow
First 21CN Ethernet business service now available to UK corporate customers
BT today announces the launch of Etherflow, an Ethernet-based connectivity service for business customers. Featuring easily scaleable bandwidth, purchasable a month at a time, the service allows businesses to start benefiting from BT’s powerful new 21st Century Network (21CN).
The latest addition to BT’s Ethernet portfolio, Etherflow was designed to deliver the flexibility and agility businesses need to support advanced collaborative working. Customers can choose from standard or premium traffic classes depending on the needs of their applications and can configure the service themselves using an online self-service portal – something that will become increasingly commonplace as BT’s 21CN programme evolves.
Royston Hoggarth, CEO BT Global Services UK, said: “Our customers are demanding faster and cheaper Ethernet services with the performance and functionality to meet all their networked IT services needs. We have been providing Ethernet services for more than 17 years, supporting an installed base of more than 33,000 connections and employ experts who play leading roles in the development of Ethernet standards.
“As the first business service to take advantage of 21CN, Etherflow is able to offer valuable new features, such as a self-service portal that makes it far quicker and easier for businesses to manage and reconfigure the service as their needs change.”
The launch of Etherflow extends the range of options open to businesses looking for ways to interconnect their premises. Depending on their particular needs, the service may be a powerful, flexible and cost-effective replacement for traditional private circuits, ATM and frame-relay connections; for others it may fit very well alongside their IP VPNs.
At launch, Etherflow offers speeds from 10Mbit/s to 1Gbit/s to customers within reach of 106 core and access nodes that cover all the major business centres across the UK. By March 2009, the range of speeds will have been extended to range from 2Mbit/s to1Gbit/s and the number access nodes will have been increased to over 600. By the end of 2009, it is expected that the service will be available from 1,000 21CN access nodes in the UK. BT also has plans to roll out Etherflow internationally from 2009 onwards.
These future developments demonstrate BT’s commitment to offering customers services that stay ahead of their changing operational needs.
Available immediately, Etherflow is priced depending on factors including the customer’s location, choice of bandwidth and traffic class. Bespoke billing options are available.
