New Edge Networks (News - Alert) received a multi-year contract to provide managed network services to Superior Farms, one of the largest lamb processors that supply the retail and food service industries. New Edge Networks, the business communications unit of EarthLink, builds and manages private IP-based wide area networks that do not use the public Internet. With the solution of New Edge Networks, Superior Farms will get real-time access to data, a competitive edge from MPLS network

 

New Edge, as part of the three-year contract, will build and manage Superior Farms’ primary private wide area network as well as a standby high-speed backup network for disaster recovery. New Edge will also provide its ReadyOffice remote access solution for connecting Superior Farms employees to their company’s integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) data warehouse from their home or laptop computers.

 

 

A high-speed Multi-Protocol Label Switching, or MPLS, network will prioritize network traffic and give Superior Farms online, real-time access to precision cost data powered by a proprietary computer system. This system can instantly quote prices and delivery schedules for customers, which include retailers like Wal-Mart, Publix Super Market and Jewel-Osco.

 

“Through the MPLS network and our sophisticated computer system, Superior Farms sales representatives will be able to instantly hone profitable pricing to a very narrow range, “ said Jim Roberts, director of information technology for Superior Farms.

 

Superior Farms’ new MPLS network links the company’s four manufacturing and distribution facilities in Boston, Denver, Dixon, Calif., and Vernon, Calif., with the corporate headquarters as well as several remote sales offices around the country.   The fail-over backup network is based on digital subscriber line, or DSL, technology.

 

Superior Farms’ new MPLS network replaces a T1/DSL network. New Edge expects to complete installation in December.