EMBARQ Announces Milestone

EMBARQ recently celebrated the migration of the company's one millionth customer from a circuit network to a packet network, a technological evolution that facilitates the development and delivery of innovative common sense products and services.

"The platform allows us to provide converged voice and data services," said Jim Hansen, senior vice president of Network Services for EMBARQ. "Products like an integrated voicemail platform serving both wireline and wireless devices, or Smart Connect where customers' phones switch seamlessly between a wireline and wireless network aren't as practical on a circuit-based network, and much more difficult to make available. The packet network makes it easier for us to make innovative products available to our customers much more quickly than in the past."

Packet technology can also handle voice and data messages more efficiently than the existing circuit network, allowing EMBARQ to reduce future expenditures on network upgrades.

"It is an honor that this milestone occurred in our community," said Teresa O'Neal, Chair of the Juniata County Commissioners, site of the most recent network upgrade. "Our residents look forward to enjoying the next generation of common sense products and services that this will facilitate."

EMBARQ began its packet conversion in May of 2003 with Nortel, serving customers in Gardner, Kan. Since that time, the company has been steadily moving customers to the new network technology at a faster pace than others in the industry.

To support EMBARQ's network migration, Nortel has deployed its Carrier VoIP and Metro Ethernet solutions, including the Communication Server (CS) 2000 and Metro Ethernet Router Switch (MERS) 8600 as well as provided turn-key migration services from the Nortel Global Services Portfolio.

"Nortel's Carrier VoIP and multimedia solutions allow EMBARQ to more easily offer its customers next-generation communication services," said Alf Decardenas, general manager, Converged Multimedia Networks, Nortel. "We're thrilled to work with EMBARQ as they migrate towards an even more superior network that delivers integrated voice, video and data services. This is further proof they are truly dedicated to offering their customers common sense products and services."

Read more about the milestone in the CNNMoney.com article EMBARQ Reaches Packet Network Milestone.