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2003

THUS Drives Down the Cost of WAN Applications Including Voice Over IP

THUS plc, one of the UK's leading providers of voice, data, Internet and contact centre services, has launched an MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching)-based IP VPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) service using Ethernet as the access technology. The new service will provide UK organisations with a flexible, secure and cost-effective platform to migrate to MPLS for wide area voice and data communications, including Voice Over IP (VoIP). THUS will sell the service, which has Cisco Powered Network designation, direct to UK organisations and through its Channel Partners.

THUS's MPLS IP VPN service enables an organisation to securely link its various locations - headquarters, branch offices and remote users using cost-effective IP-based voice services and data connectivity. MPLS enables packets of information to be transmitted via IP in a particular order and within a specified timeframe, making it a suitable medium for delivery of time sensitive data. When combined with the simplicity and affordability of Ethernet access, MPLS IP VPNs are ideal for corporate voice and data communications, including Internet and Intranet access.

Traditionally, leased lines have been used as the access technology of choice for IP VPNs, but there is usually no interim step in bandwidth between standard 2 Mbps and 34 Mbps services. Organisations whose bandwidth requirements fall between these amounts are forced to invest in a costly 34 Mbps access circuit or buy multiple 2 Mbps services. This often means organisations are paying for significantly more bandwidth than is required or that their options for growing the network are limited.

THUS's MPLS IP VPN service is available with Ethernet connections at 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps providing organisations with an affordable stepping-stone between 2 Mbps and 34 Mbps and scalability for future growth. THUS can also provide tailored bandwidth solutions for specific applications delivering improved flexibility and scalability as companies need only pay for the bandwidth they require[¹]. In addition, Ethernet already powers most LANs so terminating equipment for Ethernet connections is typically up to 50 percent cheaper than the routers required for leased line solutions.

" We are seeing demand for MPLS grow steadily. One of the main drivers of this is VoIP. There is a consensus that VoIP is the future, and companies want to be ready for it," explained Nigel Stevens, Product Director at THUS plc. " Until now the access technology has been a barrier for some organisations, as there has been little choice for organisations with bandwidth requirements between 2 Mbps and 34 Mbps typically offered by providers of leased lines. If organisations wanted to upgrade from 2 Mbps they had to make the huge jump to 34 Mbps, and this meant a significant cost hike. This is very hard to justify if most of the bandwidth will remain unused. Our new service uses Ethernet to provide a more flexible, scalable, cost effective service - critical to make VoIP accessible in a climate where the watchword is return on investment."

Stevens continued, " Ethernet has the added advantage of being interoperable with other types of access technology. This means that companies that require high bandwidth access at one site, usually the head office, but have lower bandwidth requirements at satellite branches can pick and mix the most appropriate technology and bandwidth at each location. This reduces total network costs."

[¹] subject to terms and conditions