Intermedia Communications Takes Aggressive Step in DSL Deployment Strategy

Strategic Insights -

Intermedia Communications, a leading provider of communications services for small and medium-sized businesses, has announced trials of Voice over DSL (VoDSL) and Frame Relay over DSL (FRoDSL) to deliver multiple services over a DSL access facility. This initiative complements the company's current DSL Internet offerings, enabling a more robust portfolio of next-generation communications alternatives. The trials, which will simulate customer environments, are expected to be complete by February 2000.

Key Takeaways:

  • Intermedia is leveraging the convergence of voice and data technologies with advanced DSL services to deliver multiple services over a DSL access facility.
  • The company has announced trials of VoDSL and FRoDSL, which will allow customers to maximize bandwidth by allocating capacity between voice and data on an as-needed basis.
  • According to Cahners InStat Group, the VoDSL market is expected to reach over $1 billion by the end of 2000, with small businesses as the market with the greatest growth opportunity.
  • Intermedia has formed an alliance with Rhythms NetConnections Inc. for the DSL trials, and will also include equipment configurations from several other companies, including Jetstream Communications, Copper Mountain Networks, and Netopia.
  • The trials are expected to simulate customer environments and will evaluate design, application performance, QoS, economics, technical support, and vendor evaluation.
  • Intermedia's focus is on the business customer, and DSL has already proved ideal for their communication needs, with the company using its national network and unique positioning to offer new, value-added DSL services faster and more cost-effectively than the competition.

Statistics:

  • The VoDSL market is expected to reach over $1 billion by the end of 2000 (Cahners InStat Group).
  • Intermedia has over 90,000 small and medium-sized business customers (company press release).
  • The densest frame relay network available is provided by Intermedia (company press release).
  • Intermedia's DSL Internet offerings are currently available to customers (company press release).

Sources:

  • Intermedia Communications press release, Nov. 9, 1999.
  • Cahners InStat Group.
  • Intermedia Communications website, www.intermedia.com.