ASHBURN, Va., July 21, 2004 - MCI (NASDAQ:MCIP) today introduced its next-generation Ethernet capabilities, offering businesses an economical and flexible way to extend their local area networks to become IP-ready wide area networks. With its newly-expanded suite of Ethernet services and nationwide footprint, MCI delivers uniform carrier-grade solutions that simply enable IP applications, like streaming media and distance learning, as well as LAN-to-LAN communications.
MCI's new Ethernet suite includes new U.S. Private Line Ethernet Services, expanded Internet Dedicated Ethernet Service coverage from five to 25 markets across the U.S. and enhanced Metro Private Line Ethernet Service with higher speeds and additional features. Available On-net via MCI's fiber-lit buildings and Off-net in select locations, MCI's Ethernet services offer businesses quick and easy access to additional bandwidth, Internet connectivity and the ability to rapidly transfer and share increasingly larger files like graphics.
"MCI continues to advance its data networking solutions to keep pace with the changing face of technology and business," said Nancy Gofus, MCI senior vice president, Product Management. "MCI's new Ethernet capabilities and expanded coverage will enable companies to effectively extend their local area networks beyond the metropolitan coverage area to build next generation IP-based wide area networks simply and cost-effectively."
Delivering on the company's Converged Packet Access strategy announced today, MCI is offering secure, end-to-end Ethernet solutions over a private infrastructure that will support new business applications, like storage, to handle the growing volume of corporate data. MCI's new Ethernet data services are ideal for companies in the financial, healthcare and education industries, especially those required to meet new industry regulations for data replication and archiving, and the support of new online applications. For example, Ethernet-based services are well suited to hospitals that need to share medical imaging between physician offices or for graphics companies that transfer gigabyte-sized files from design centers to printing locations.
DoubleClick Inc., the leading provider of solutions for advertising agencies, marketers and Web publishers, has found Ethernet to offer numerous advantages in support of its Internet infrastructure. Today, DoubleClick uses MCI's Metro Ethernet Network to connect to MCI's Premium Data Centers, where DoubleClick's servers are securely housed and directly connected to MCI's global IP network. DoubleClick also uses MCI's Internet Dedicated Ethernet Service to provide high-speed connections to Web servers located in a separate data center to ensure its content is always up and available. MCI's Ethernet solution enables DoubleClick to deliver quick and reliable content downloads.
"With our high-performance Internet infrastructure, DoubleClick provides consistent quality results for our customers," said Greg Tagaris, DoubleClick VP of Global Technology Operations. "And now with MCI's new Ethernet capabilities, DoubleClick will be able to easily evolve our Internet platform to accommodate the continuing growth of our business."
"MCI is one of very few providers that offer a robust Ethernet product set nationally," said Brian Washburn, senior analyst with research firm Current Analysis. "Ethernet as a telecom service is gaining hold in the U.S., and MCI is in a good position to capitalize on business demand with both metro and long-haul Ethernet services that reach across its expansive network footprint."
For the first time, MCI is offering long distance Private Line Ethernet Services in the U.S. Beginning in August, MCI U.S. Private Line customers can connect their business locations using Ethernet on a nationwide basis to increase bandwidth and lower costs, without sacrificing network quality and performance. Using an Ethernet over SONET infrastructure, MCI will provide carrier-grade service reliability backed by 100 percent availability and a two-hour Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) service level agreement (SLA) for On-net services.
MCI's Metro Private Line Ethernet Service provides a dedicated, highly reliable point-to-point service between locations within the same LATA through a standard, high speed Ethernet interface, while supported by a 100 percent network availability SLA for On-net services. Beginning in August, this service will be available in additional speeds of 10 Mbps, 40 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps. This fall, MCI will add Fibre Channel, FICON and ESCON Storage capabilities to this offering.
Expanding from five to 25 markets in September, MCI's Internet Dedicated Ethernet Service delivers access to the Internet at bandwidth levels ranging from 1 Mbps to 600 Mbps with 1 Gbps available upon request. This fall, this solution will be available with MCI's fully managed IP VPN Dedicated offering to provide secure connectivity to businesses through high-availability, high-speed links.
MCI also offers Ethernet service in EMEA and Asia Pacific that reflect regional differences in service delivery, including availability in the U.K., France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. MCI has plans to offer International Private Line Ethernet Services to EMEA and Asia Pacific before the end of 2004.
About MCI
MCI, Inc., (NASDAQ: MCIP), is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With the industry's most expansive global IP backbone, based on the number of company-owned points of presence, and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to www.mci.com.
