“Delivering Ethernet services over a robust network backbone is of paramount importance if communications service providers are to continue delivering added value in a marketplace where products and services are rapidly commoditised,” says Frost & Sullivan analyst Fernando Elizalde. “Ethernet is quickly becoming the technology of choice to connect remote sites and seamlessly deliver integrated data, voice and video applications. As the market continues to mature, an increasing number of businesses will look to providers like Colt with proven expertise in using Ethernet technology across different regions, countries and terrain.”
Colt has pioneered Ethernet services for more than 10 years and today provides Europe’s broadest portfolio of metro, national and international Ethernet services to more than 1,700 European businesses. During 2007, Colt will continue to expand the geographical reach and features of its Ethernet services to meet customer demand for simpler, more flexible and higher bandwidth communications infrastructures.
“We are delighted to be recognised by Frost & Sullivan as the market benchmark for European Ethernet services,” said Alireza Mahmoodshahi, CTO at Colt. “We have been focusing heavily on building our Ethernet capabilities over the last year. We believe that extending Ethernet from the local area into the wide area network is critical in helping businesses operate more agile and lower cost networks and supporting the next generation of converged communications services.”
In recognition of its achievement in the Ethernet field, in September 2006 the company also won the Metro Ethernet Forum’s (MEF) prestigious Carrier Ethernet European Service Provider of the Year Award for ‘Outstanding Innovation’.