AT&T unveils Ultravailable Broadband Network
AT&T is implementing the service for Merrill Lynch, a charter customer, to link 11 major campuses in the New York, New Jersey metro area.
This fully managed and monitored custom solution interconnects client data/technology centers and business sites in a secure metropolitan area network, for mirroring data and applications and transmitting large quantities of data at high speeds. It is backed by aggressive service level agreements tailored to client requirements.
Monitoring and performance management of all components is provided around-the-clock via AT&T Solutions' Global Enterprise Management Systems (GEMS) platform. AT&T Solutions is the networking professional services arm of AT&T.
AT&T Ultravailable Broadband Network employs Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology, which combines and transmits multiple signals simultaneously at different wavelengths on the same fiber, transforming it into multiple virtual fibers.
IBM Fiber Saver and Nortel Networks' OPTera Metro DWDM equipment have been certified for use with AT&T Ultravailable Broadband Network. Other major hardware suppliers are in the midst of the certification process.
The service is available now in the New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Houston metropolitan areas, and can be provisioned on a custom basis in other geographic areas, as clients require it.
Deployment of an AT&T Ultravailable Broadband Network typically begins with a business and technology risk assessment conducted by the AT&T Solutions professional services team. It also includes design, engineering, provisioning, installation and on-going monitoring and fault management of the fiber optic infrastructure and DWDM multiplexers. As part of its ongoing support, AT&T handles security, vendor management and change management for system upgrades.
With contributions by Evan Bass
Managing Editor, Fiber Optics Online