Hoping to capture convergence-conscious SMBs, Cablevision Systems Corp.’s Optimum Lightpath unit has launched its Voice over Metro Ethernet service, a managed offering it created with NEC Unified Solutions and Cisco Systems Inc.
The service is the latest evidence of cablecos’ willingness to innovate in an effort to lure businesses away from a lengthening list of SMB-focused providers including RBOCs, CLECs and even a retail chain, among others. The cableco unit sells services directly to these customers.
At last week’s NCTA conference, several large cablecos emphasized the importance of continuing to look well beyond residential services for current and future growth, claiming that margins realized from selling to SMBs are bigger.
Voice over Metro Ethernet is a fully bundled, turnkey solution and, like all of Optimum Lightpath's services, features transparent, flat-rate pricing. Monitoring and management is provided by NEC's Advanced Network Operating Center and includes network assessment, system design and installation, 24x7 monitoring, maintenance, network management of software upgrades, ongoing analysis, and a dedicated customer service manager. As part of the service, customers also receive a periodic technical refresh that has the IP PBX and phones upgraded or replaced every five years.
Voice over Metro Ethernet will feature Cisco Unified Communications equipment and NEC's managed service, and will be delivered over Optimum Lightpath's wholly owned and managed fiber-optic network spanning more than 2,700 route miles throughout northern Connecticut, New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area.
Optimum Lightpath's Voice over Metro Ethernet is targeted at SMBs seeking an alternative to premises-based options such as PBXs, while enabling unified communications without committing to a hosted offering.
Cablevision Systems Corp. www.cablevision.com
Cisco Systems Inc. www.cisco.com
NEC Unified Solutions www.necunified.com
Optimum LightPath www.optimumlightpath.com
