June 29, 2006 Tokyo -- NTT Communications is expanding the service area for its next-generation Ethernet service, dubbed Global Super Link, to England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong in addition to the U.S. and Japan. The expanded service will be available on July 3, 2006, to be followed by more cities around the world in the future.
A more flexible fee structure also will begin on the same day, say NTT representatives. Currently, users can choose between two transmission speeds of 45 Mbits/sec for a flat rate or 100 Mbits/sec with a fee depending on data traffic. Under the new flexible fee, users can choose transmission speeds in increments of 10 Mbits/sec from 10 Mbits/sec to 100 Mbits/sec for a flat rate, although 100-Mbit/sec subscribers also can opt for a variable rate.
According to the carrier, Global Super Link, launched last July, was the world's first full-scale commercial service of its kind, providing enterprise users with high-speed, high-bandwidth burstable data transmission--on a global basis--that accommodates their usage patterns.
The service takes advantage of MPLS technology and NTT's global IP backbone to offer secure virtual private Ethernet service with network management. Enterprise users can create a global LAN environment using their existing equipment, which saves the cost of having to purchase special devices. NTT Com provides end-to-end services such as access lines for monitoring trouble on the Ethernet.
NTT Com demonstrated the possibilities of the service last February 5, 2005, when it succeeded in using an IP transmission for a delayed high-definition broadcast in Japan of NFL Super Bowl XL, played in Detroit, Michigan. The trial broadcast was fed from the U.S. at a transmission rate of approximately 70 Mbits/sec (MPEG2-TS) through NTT Com's Global Super Link and was publicly broadcast at midnight, February 6, 2005 (Japan standard time).