NTT offers wide-area Ethernet via broadband IP network

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NTT Communications (NTT Com) announced Monday that it has started providing a wide-area Ethernet service using inexpensive broadband IP access lines for enterprise customers nationwide in Japan. The service, named Group-Ether, is a best-effort service offering low-cost nationwide network coverage by taking advantage of broadband access lines that NTT Com’s sister companies NTT East and NTT West provide with certain versions of their FLET’S-branded Internet access services.

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Group-Ether provides a Layer 2 connectivity, giving users flexibility in choosing their network’s design and communications protocol.

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NTT Com already offers a wide-area Ethernet service, named e-VLAN, with guaranteed quality and burstable bandwidth, suited to large facilities requiring high-end network performance. The addition of Group-Ether will give customers a relatively low-cost alternative for smaller offices and facilities where network requirements are less demanding. Offices will be able to interconnect their e-VLAN and Group-Ether networks from the third quarter of 2009.

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NTT Com will provide Group-Ether customers with one-stop service covering applications, billing and troubleshooting, as well as FLET’S access line, dedicated converter and network.

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The service fee will vary depending on the type of service, bandwidth and access line. In the case of a Main-Category service type using Economy Plan bandwidth and a FLET’S Hikari Next Family Type access line, the monthly service fee will be 18,900 yen (tax included).

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