Williams Communications Launches IP VPN Service

March 5, 2002 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- In the midst of efforts to restructure nearly $1 billion in debt, broadband and IP services provider Williams Communications (williamscommunications.com) announced on Tuesday the launch of its IP virtual private network service.

Williams says its IP VPN service combines the global reach and flexibility of the Internet with the security and reliability of private networks to deliver quality IP performance, offering both a site-to-site configuration and a network-based, MPLS-enabled IP VPN service.

The new service, says Williams, allows customers around the world to select the class of service that best supports their mix of applications, and then view their IP VPN data delivery performance using Williams’ VPN InView Web-based monitoring and reporting tool, based on CoreExpress technology.

“Performance, cost efficiency and security are foremost on our customers’ minds, and that’s exactly what our IP VPN service delivers. With one of the most robust IP VPN offerings available in the industry, customers can deploy even the most demanding, mission-critical applications with complete confidence," said Matthew Bross, senior vice president and general manager of Emerging Markets for Williams Communications.

According to Williams, several companies have already recognized the benefits of the MPLS IP VPN service. Customers already signed on by the company include Dancris Telecom, a prepaid calling card provider, which will use the IP VPN service to transmit call data records between branch and switch locations, and Patient Safety Institute, an information system for health care professionals, which will use the service to allow the secure linking of medical records.

Williams says the IP VPN service supports its existing portfolio of IP-based services, delivered over the company’s nationwide OC-48, MPLS-enabled IP network. The IP VPN service can be combined with the company’s broadband media services such as content gathering and distribution, managed web hosting and streaming media.