Verizon Business Expands Carrier Ethernet Capabilities to Boost Application Performance for Enterprises

Company Becomes First Tier One Carrier to Standardize Highest Available U.S. Metro Ethernet Speed

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Responding to the ever-growing demand from large businesses for greater Carrier Ethernet bandwidth, Verizon Business has standardized a 10 gigabit Ethernet (10 GigE) offering for its Metro Ethernet service in the U.S.

Previously, 10 GigE speed - the fastest commercially available today - had been available from Verizon Business only on a customized basis. By standardizing 10 GigE, Verizon Business can help U.S.-based companies with multiple locations and distributed data centers more quickly and easily consolidate their network infrastructure, virtualize their IT environment and efficiently transmit bandwidth-intensive applications such as high-definition video conferencing and medical imaging.

Put simply, a 10 GigE connection is so powerful that eight to 10 full-length movies can be downloaded in just one second.

This new capability, available immediately, will further expand Verizon Business’ industry-leading Carrier Ethernet portfolio, through which it provides services across 39 countries. The company now offers 10 GigE for Ethernet LAN Service (E-LAN) and Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) to customers in Verizon’s sprawling U.S. footprint in 100 metro markets, building on the company’s existing 10 GigE-capable Ethernet Private Line and optical offerings.

“10 GigE hits the sweet spot for companies wanting to make the most of their IP networking capabilities for advanced applications that can be true bandwidth hogs,” said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president of global business products for Verizon. “Now, these on-demand applications can work harder and smarter across multiple locations across town, featuring the classes of service, service level agreements and security associated with Verizon Business’ global Ethernet portfolio.”

Brian Washburn, an analyst with Current Analysis, said, “Verizon Business is taking an important step forward by making big-bandwidth switched Ethernet available off the shelf. This new, standardized 10 GigE offering meets a demand in the marketplace for businesses that are consuming ever more bandwidth to get their jobs done. It’s especially valuable for companies looking at remote data center connectivity and consolidation, which we see as growing trends for large businesses.”

Global Ethernet Leadership Recognized

Verizon Business, a recognized industry leader in providing global Carrier Ethernet services, continues to deliver the benefits of Ethernet innovation to multinational businesses and government agencies worldwide. This week, Verizon announced that it received the 2008 Best in Business European Carrier Ethernet Service Provider of the Year Award from the Metro Ethernet Forum. The company’s Ethernet portfolio was also highlighted in a new report from IDC, “IDC Marketscape: U.S. Enterprise Telecommunications 2008 Vendor Analysis, Doc # 214572, October 2008,” which pointed out Verizon Business’ leadership in offering VPLS in 2007. In June, the Metro Ethernet Forum recognized Verizon for the third consecutive year as Carrier Ethernet Service Provider of the Year, Best in Business, North America. The company was cited for its Carrier Ethernet portfolio and its continued commitment to Ethernet innovation.

Verizon’s award-winning portfolio of Ethernet services features:

* Metro Ethernet Services (E-LAN and EVPL) - available within 100 metro markets in the U.S.

* Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) - available virtually anywhere in the U.S.

* Ethernet Private Line (EPL) - available within 145 U.S. metro markets and in many locations in 21 European countries.

* Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) - available virtually anywhere in the U.S. and in many locations in six Asia-Pacific countries and territories, as well as between the U.S and six Asia-Pacific regions, and between the U.S. and 10 European countries.

* Ethernet Access for Private IP and the public Internet - available virtually anywhere in the U.S, within 20 European countries, 13 countries in Asia-Pacific and four countries in Latin America and Canada.

Customers can use Ethernet either as a stand-alone, end-to-end service in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific region or as a means of quickly and easily accessing either the Internet or Private IP, Verizon Business’ MPLS-based, layer 3 virtual private network (VPN).

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world’s most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company’s customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.