Backbone Directory: Broadwing

Broadwing continues to build out its advanced network, which is the base for its IP backbone transporting public and private, voice and data services over 20,000 miles of OC48 cable.

by Jeff Goldman [June 1, 2005]

Completed in 2001, Broadwing's 20,000-mile network offers a wide range of speeds and services.

Founded in 1962 as Tower Communications Systems, Broadwing Communications, LLC, provides networking communications solutions to enterprise, carrier and government customers. Broadwing Communications is a subsidiary of Broadwing Corporation, as is Corvis Equipment Company, which manufactures and deploys all-optical and optical-electrical-optical (OEO) telecommunications equipment and components.

Broadwing's nationwide, all-optically switched network covers more than 20,000 route miles. Completed in 2001, the network includes numerous industry firsts, such as the first all-optical switch, 100 percent reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers, terrestrial Raman amplifiers, and ultra-long haul transmitters and receivers.

Broadwing offers on-net services in almost every major metropolitan service area (MSA) in the U.S., as well as connections and services to almost every country in the world. Bandwidth is available from DS1 (1.544 Mbps) to OC192 (10 Gbps), with products including ATM, Frame Relay, Dedicated Internet, Private Line, Leased Line, Ethernet, VoIP, LEC-UNI and DSL.

The network itself is controlled via an intelligent remote management system that allows services to be provisioned remotely, thereby greatly decreasing provisioning times. The network is monitored 24/7, with a time to repair (TTR) service level agreement of less than 4 hours. Clients have access to a Web-based reporting system to monitor and verify network performance.

Key benefits of Broadwing's network include the following:

• Aggressive on-net and off-net SLAs that cover the core Broadwing network (on-net) and Broadwing's interconnections with top peering partners (off-net)
• On-net guarantees which include:
• 100 percent network availability
• Less than 1 percent packet loss
• 50 ms domestic round-trip latency
• All-optical transport infrastructures
• Unique architecture which keeps regional traffic regional, with one-hop routing between regions, assuring low latency and efficient traffic delivery for mission-critical data
• Robust peering with over 40 Gbps of peering capacity with other providers in multiple, geographically dispersed locations
• Dual vendor architecture that protects against vendor-specific software or hardware failure by using both Cisco and Juniper hardware
• Flat-rate Internet connectivity that allows clients to count on paying a consistent monthly priceBurstable Internet connectivity that provides applications with the bandwidth they need when they need itBandwidth available from fractional DS-1 to OC-48, including DSL and Gigabit Ethernet, with fractional speeds on most circuit types
• Flexible CPE options—Broadwing delivers fully configured routers, as well as optional router management services for a fully hands-off service
• VPN solutions which combine the reach of IP with the security of private networking
• Both managed network-based and CPE-based VPN services available
• Broadwing managed firewall and intrusion detection services available
• 24/7 Network Operations Center with direct access to network technicians

The company maintains branch offices in the following locations:

Phoenix, AZ; Irvine, CA; San Jose, CA; Walnut Creek, CA; Denver, CO; Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; Tampa, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL: Kansas City/Mission, KS; Baton Rouge, LA; Columbia, MD; Baltimore/Towson, MD; Boston, MA; Detroit/Novi, MI; Minneapolis, MN; St. Lous, MO; Marlton, NJ; New York City, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Philadelphia/Blue Bell, PA; Austin, TX; Houston, TX; Plano, TX; Salt Lake City/South Jordan, UT; and Reston, VA.

Corporate contact info