360networks Unveils Single Point of Interconnection T1 Service

By: Richard “Zippy” Grigonis

Despite the predictions of experts in the 1990s that the world’s networks would scrap their past and embrace a totally next-generation network future, there’s still quite a market for the good old T-Carrier system, such as the venerable T1, with its 1.544 Mbps line rate.

Indeed, 360networks (News - Alert), a major wholesale provider of communications products and services in the western U.S., has announced its new Single Point of Interconnection (SPI) T1 service to help its carrier customers reduce operating costs and eliminate the kind of capital expenses normally associated with delivering T1 services. The SPI-T1 service will enable 360network’s carrier customers to provide point-to-point, clear channel T1s to their subscribers in over 380 wire centers in 32 markets throughout the western U.S. via a single connection to 360network’s impressive 17,200 mile fiber-optic backbone.

The SPI-T1 service is suitable for customers deploying Wide Area Network (WAN) applications, integrated access, SIP trunking applications, hosted VoIP, Primary Rate ISDN (PRI) replacement, along with other voice or data services.

Nick Reifschneider, Product Manager for 360network’s VoIP services, says, “Our new end-to-end service includes the long-haul portion back to our customer as well as the local loop to the end-user, all for a single flat rate in each market. We found that there are many service providers wanting to expand their footprint without being compelled to collocate equipment or incur the expense of long-haul facilities to interconnect multiple hub locations. With this service, customers interconnect to 360network’s backbone network at one or more Points of Presence (POPs) and then easily order end-to-end T1 access from the point of interconnection to the end-user location at a flat-rate price per T1 by MSA/market. That’s the only recurring cost – there are no recurring port fees or long-haul or local loop to end-user fees. Because of such flat-rate pricing, our customers should be able to easily and precisely manage their margins.”

360networks’ Rick Coma, Senior Vice President, says, “You can look upon SPI-T1 as a complement to our existing VoIP360 portfolio. Our wholesale IP-based voice services offering is SIP-based and can be accessed via a public IP connection or via a direct interconnection to our IP backbone. Our wholesale VoIP service provides inbound and outbound local calling, e911 (News - Alert) services, directory listings, local number portability, operator services, caller name services, directory assistance, toll-free origination, toll-free termination and domestic long-distance termination. Customers can use 360networks’ VoIP and access platform to quickly and cost-effectively deliver on-net QoS [Quality of Service] hosted VoIP and SIP trunking services in 32 western U.S. markets.”

“At our end, we manage the end-to-end delivery of the T1 circuit, as well as the delivery of the local loop to their subscriber,” says Coma. “We deliver a channelized long-haul facility back to our customer’s single point of interconnection, and we provide any physical installation necessary to get the customer up and running with T1 connectivity, though we’re obviously not responsible for the customer premise equipment. Our customers, in turn, essentially ‘own’ their subscribers – they manage the turn-up process, including customer premise equipment and extension of the demarcation point if required.”

“Customers can interface at a DS3 or OCn levels. We’re even capable of supplying an OC-12 [622.08 Mbps transmission speed] if they want,” says Coma. “At the moment we’re deploying 32 markets with plans to expand into several more throughout the western United States. We have several beta customers who are currently offering T1s to the public using this service.”

360networks itself currently offers a long-haul and metro presence with a total of 76 POPs servicing 52 U.S. markets, with plans to expand. They sell an increasingly wide range of voice and data services to carriers, ISPs, and cable companies. These services include IP, Private Line, Collocation Services, and VoIP. 360networks’ SONET Ring is a fully meshed architecture engineered to provide complete redundancy, thus enabling the company to offer highly reliable services to its customers. IT

For more information on 360networks’ new Single Point of Interconnection T1 service, visit www.360networks.com/T1 or contact Steve Cardwell at 503-558-8129.

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