Sprint Unveils Network Strategy
Sprint has unveiled plans for what it deems a revolutionary new telecommunications capability that can provide homes and businesses with virtually unlimited bandwidth over a single existing telephone line for simultaneous voice, video calls and data services.
Dubbed the "Integrated On-Demand Network" (ION), Sprint has been working on the secret project for five years under the code name "Project FastBreak."
With cell-based network technology, Sprint expects the network cost of delivering a typical voice call to drop by more than 70%, and hopes to provide full-motion video or conference calling for less than the cost of providing a typical domestic long distance phone call today.
Sprint cites investments of more than $2 billion in the network. ION will leverage the reliability of SONET rings Sprint has deployed across the United States, as well as its ATM backbone.
Cisco will provide core and edge equipment, including customer premise equipment. Through the exchange of intellectual property, Cisco will provide voice over ATM equipment and interfaces to other carriers' legacy circuit-switched networks. Sprint will also implement the Directory Enabled Networks (DEN) standard. DEN networks place information about users and their services on ION to deliver better performance, reliability, security and quality for a variety of networked applications.
Bellcore is providing the central software framework that is the core intelligence of ION, developing software and providing consulting services to ensure reliability.
Sprint will extend its nationwide long distance network with metropolitan broadband networks to 36 major markets in 1998 and 60 by 1999, passing nearby 70% of large businesses without having to use Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). For smaller business locations, telecommuters, small/home office users and consumers who may not have access, ION will leverage DSL and other broadband services.
Sprint has been privately testing ION with both businesses and consumers for the past year. An initial roll out to large businesses will begin later this year. The service will be generally available to businesses in mid-1999, with consumer availability late in 1999.
Coastal States Management, Ernst & Young LLP, Hallmark, Silicon Graphics, Sysco Foods and Tandy have lined up to use the network's new services.