AT&T has announced cable service operators and Internet service
providers will have support for Multi-Protocol Label Switching
(MPLS) on the company's Internet protocol backbone network
The company hopes the extended support will make it easier for
providers to offer virtual private network (VPN) services and other
managed services.
AT&T also will provide network management and monitoring
capabilities to ISPs and cable companies, permitting automated
trouble reporting and trouble shooting, as well as performance
reports and capacity management.
The reporting and management functions are a prerequisite for
service providers to deploy VPN services, said Kate Rankin, an
AT&T spokeswoman. "We're hoping this will get more cable
companies and ISPs to migrate to our backbone," she said.
The new offering will, potentially, improve cable operators'
ability to offer business services, moving beyond consumer
broadband Internet access. It also is another step in its plan to
counter the effect of the end of its Concert Communications
international joint venture with British Telecom.
AT&T offers its fully managed IP VPN service in 54 countries,
but is only beginning to support MPLS services internationally.
AT&T plans to have 102 nodes with MPLS capability deployed in
88 cities throughout the world by the end of the year.