Cogent Communications, a next-generation, optical Internet service provider (ISP), announced its plans to immediately increase the size of its existing network backbone to 80 Gbps due to larger than anticipated customer demand. This expansion is expected to be completed by third quarter of 2001.
Cogent Communications has built a nationwide IP+Optical end-to-end network utilizing Cisco's IP+Optical equipment. Cogent's backbone infrastructure currently operates across the country connecting 13 cities via two, interconnected rings, built to operate multiple OC-192 wavelengths. Each OC-192 wavelength operates at 10 Gbps speeds. Cogent's IP+Optical network architecture delivers quality of service standards normally associated with traditional circuit-switched networks. Cogent has commenced work on lighting an additional seven wavelengths, increasing the overall capacity to 80 Gbps -- similar to accommodating over 150 billion e-mails per second.
Cogent Communications offers its commercial user and service provider customer base optical bandwidth for unmetered, non-distance sensitive pricing levels. An end-to-end IP+Optical infrastructure combines the intelligence and flexibility of IP networking with the scale and economic efficiency of optical transport. This infrastructure enables significant efficiencies that maximize bandwidth and drive down the cost per megabit delivered.
Cogent's flagship retail offering of 100 Mbps of optical bandwidth and Internet connectivity for a flat monthly rate of $1000 is currently being provided in four metropolitan areas in the Eastern U.S. (New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago) and will be rolled out in 13 cities across the U.S. during the balance of 2001.
About Cogent Communications:
Cogent Communications is a next generation optical ISP focused on delivering ultra-high speed Internet access and transport services to businesses in the multi-tenant marketplace and to service providers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.cogentco.com.