PAETEC Demonstrates 'Next-Gen' VPN Product

PAETEC Communications Inc. (Booths 400-402), which serves 27 markets nationwide, is demonstrating a new product for businesses that it says will revolutionize connections among internal and external communications networks, and prioritize data delivery to maximize network performance.

The SecureTec MPLS VPN enables businesses to connect internal sites, external partners and employee homes. It will allow businesses to differentiate their data traffic within the PAETEC network to specify the speed at which certain data should be transmitted.

Brad M. Bono, co-COO for PAETEC, refers to Multi-Protocol Label Switching, or MPLS, as "the next generation of virtual private network service." Currently, Internet packets do not prioritize data, which can present significant challenges for real-time communication using the Web.

"Until now, using the current Internet has been like sending all letters via third-class mail," said Bono. "MPLS is like a private carrier that delivers mail by your choice of next-day air, second-day air or ground, depending upon the urgency of information. Internet packets, the building blocks for information traveling the Internet, can be highly customized to fit the specific needs of any business. This is exactly what our customers are telling us they want."

Bono says MPLS will transform data delivery for PAETEC’s customer base of medium and large businesses, colleges, universities, hospitals, hotels and government organizations.

The SecureTec MPLS VPN service enhances intranet, extranet and remote access applications in a secure environment. Unlike traditional VPNs, SecureTec MPLS VPN separates customer traffic within the PAETEC network and lets customers designate the priority of their information deliveries – with dozens of available speeds per location and the ability to reach anywhere in the United States. PAETEC says customer data always remain on the company’s private, nationwide MPLS network.

Some communications such as video conferencing or voice conversations cannot tolerate delay in the transmission, even in milliseconds, while other communications such as e-mail can wait an extra fraction of a second. PAETEC says MPLS technology will open the door to multiple new services to assist telecom and information management managers in resolving critical issues.

PAETEC says it considers agents to be key drivers of the company’s financial success. More than one-third of its annual revenue is generated by agents, so PAETEC invests in supporting and growing its agent channel. PAETEC executives say the company’s compensation plan is among the most generous in the industry because they see well-motivated agents as one of their greatest corporate assets.