NYSERNet Internet Access - Broadwing

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Commercial Internet services that are affordable, reliable, well-supported and high-performance are critical to NYSERNet's members. So in 2002, NYSERNet entered into an agreement with Broadwing, a tier-1 ISP, to offer its members Broadwing's Internet services. In just six months after the announcement of the offering, NYSERNet's members responded by acquiring a total of one Gigabit of Broadwing bandwidth. In 2004, NYSERNet's aggregate purchase exceeds three Gigabits and our utilization continues to grow today. So why is this offering so successful?

Aggressive pricing is one reason. The price NYSERNet charges is based upon our aggregate purchase. NYSERNet passes on mid-contract price reductions to its members as new bandwidth thresholds are attained. Since most of New York's largest universities are buyers under this program, new thresholds and lower prices are routinely achieved.

Another reason is the significant value NYSERNet adds to the Broadwing offering. NYSERNet provides implementation support, billing, and vendor management. NYSERNet manages the customer process from initial design through implementation. NYSERNet serves as a leveler between our members and our vendors, ensuring that our members receive the same high quality service regardless of what vendor is providing the underlying service.

NYSERNet also provides redundant NOC and connection monitoring. Of course, Broadwing monitors every connection, but NYSERNet adds a layer of monitoring to ensure that our NOC always has timely information about the state of your connection. When problems occur, the NYSERNet NOC is aware, often contacting customers before they notice the problem. NYSERNet engineers then stay engaged through problem resolution and are always available for escalation.

NYSERNet also offers a unique service for institutions connected to both the NYSERNet and Broadwing networks. Developed with Broadwing and based upon peering between the NYSERNet and Broadwing networks in NYC and Buffalo, the Network Backup Service allows institutions to utilize their NYSERNet connections to transit Internet traffic to Broadwing in the event of a service impacting event, such as a local loop failure or routine customer maintenance.

Here are some of the additional features and benefits of the service:

• Tailored support available 24x7x365 from Broadwing's Enterprise Management Center.
• Fully deployed, all-optical network with POPs in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and NYC.
• Extensive peering relationships with leading ISPs worldwide.
• Competitive pricing available only through NYSERNet's bulk-buying agreement.
• Service managed by NYSERNet, a trusted provider to New York's education and research community since 1985.