NorthPoint Communications Partners with Lucent to Enhance Network Capacity and Expand Services

Strategic Insights -

NorthPoint Communications, a leading broadband communications services provider, has partnered with Lucent Technologies to increase network capacity, speed network expansion, and deliver advanced new broadband services and features to homes and businesses. The agreement involves the deployment of Lucent's PacketStar Access Concentrator PSAX 1250 in NorthPoint's national DSL backbone, which currently spans nearly 2,000 cities and towns across 33 major U.S. markets.

This partnership enables NorthPoint to quickly add capacity to its DSL network, aggregate network traffic across multiple DSL access multiplexors (DSLAMs) onto a single DS3 or higher speed line, and scale its network as it expands into the fast-growing mass consumer market. Lucent's PacketStar access concentrators will also enable NorthPoint to deliver the feature-rich set of services its customers are seeking, including consumer-class DSL, voice over DSL, and quality of service features.

Key Takeaways:

  • NorthPoint Communications has partnered with Lucent Technologies to increase network capacity, speed network expansion, and deliver advanced new broadband services and features.
  • The agreement involves the deployment of Lucent's PacketStar Access Concentrator PSAX 1250 in NorthPoint's national DSL backbone, which currently spans nearly 2,000 cities and towns across 33 major U.S. markets.
  • NorthPoint will use the PacketStar access concentrators to aggregate network traffic across multiple DSLAMs onto a single DS3 or higher speed line to its central node locations.
  • The partnership will enable NorthPoint to deliver feature-rich broadband services, including consumer-class DSL, voice over DSL, and quality of service features.
  • Lucent will provide NorthPoint with data networking services, including installation and maintenance of the equipment, through its NetCare services group.
  • The agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two companies, which has played an important role in bringing new broadband services to the under-served small and midsize business market.
  • NorthPoint's agreement with Lucent is expected to facilitate the introduction of new services, including consumer-class DSL, voice over DSL, and quality of service features.

Statistics:

  • NorthPoint's DSL network currently spans 2,000 cities and towns across 33 major U.S. markets.
  • The partnership involves the deployment of Lucent's PacketStar Access Concentrator PSAX 1250 in NorthPoint's national DSL backbone.
  • NorthPoint currently operates DSL-based local networks in 62 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).
  • By the end of 2000, NorthPoint's DSL network is expected to pass nearly 45% of homes and more than half of all businesses in the U.S.
  • NorthPoint provides DSL-based Internet access service at speeds up to 1.5 Mbps, more than 25 times faster than common dial-up modems.

Sources:

  • M2 PressWIRE - January 19, 2000 - "NorthPoint Communications: NorthPoint partners with Lucent to increase network capacity, speed expansion"