Montana Opticom Selects 360networks Ethernet Services for Broadband Connectivity in Montana

SEATTLE, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 360networks, a facilities-based wholesale provider of Private Line Transport, Ethernet, IP, VoIP and Local Access services, today announced Montana Opticom as the first customer to deploy its new Ethernet Virtual Private Line, or EVPL, service (announced earlier this year as Layer 2 Ethernet).  The 360networks EVPL service gives Montana Opticom a more scalable, cost effective and reliable connectivity alternative than traditional TDM or other legacy connectivity solutions.

"To provide high speed connectivity and link our two networks in Montana, there were specific best-in-class technical requirements we needed to achieve, all of which 360networks' EVPL met," said Jim Dolan Jr, Montana Opticom, president. "In addition, it was significantly less expensive than the legacy solutions we were considering, and came with built-in diversity, helping us extend the value of our American Recovery and Reinvestment Act award, and helping our customers quickly and cost effectively gain access to connectivity services on par with major metropolitan areas."  

360networks developed its EVPL service for communication service providers, Internet service providers (ISPs), cloud infrastructure and storage providers, co-location providers, content providers, content distribution networks, cable MSOs, and others needing access to a high performance, Layer 2 network.

360networks' EVPL service is fully mesh-protected for ubiquitous connectivity between major carrier hotels, data centers, Internet Exchanges, and neutral peering points across 360networks' entire 18,000 route mile footprint.  It eliminates the mileage associated with traditional private line services. Instead, customers pay a monthly recurring charge per port to connect locations in a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint configuration.  Because 360networks owns and operates the network its EVPL customers benefit from a level of reliability and control not available from shared network configurations.  Combined, these factors enable customers like Montana Opticom to decrease network complexity, improve and optimize capacity, and reduce costs. 

"Our EVPL service gives Montana Opticom a unique state-of-the-art, high speed connectivity solution on our purpose built Layer 2 network," said Mike Kozlowski, director of product management for Ethernet services at 360networks.  "The configuration helps them cost effectively meet their customers' needs while improving network performance."  

About Montana Opticom

Montana Opticom, based in Gallatin Gateway, Montana, provides high-speed Internet, digital telephone and digital television services across Montana. Montana Opticom's fiber optic network delivers Internet upload and download speeds of up to 100mbps, allowing residential and business subscribers to participate equally with the most advanced urban areas in the Internet world of business, healthcare, education and entertainment. Montana Opticom's Gallatin Gateway Broadband Project will create a 153 square mile fiber optic network in Gallatin County, from Manhattan to Gallatin Gateway, under an award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For more information, please visit www.mt-opticom.com.

About 360networks

360networks is a full service wholesale provider of Private Line Transport, Ethernet, IP, VoIP, and Local Access (T1/DS3) services, on its wholly-owned fiber optic backbone.  Its facilities-based network provides deep coverage, spanning 18,000 miles to tier 1 to 4 U.S. markets (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).  Financially stable and a CLEC in 36 states, 360networks helps the nation's voice, data and web-based application and service providers to quickly pursue next generation strategies, migrate from legacy networks, grow into new markets and services, and increase network diversity. www.360networks.com

SOURCE 360networks