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[December 09, 2003]
Time Warner Cable Partners with MCI and Sprint for Nationwide Rollout of Digital Phone
Time Warner Cable today announced strategic partnerships with MCI and Sprint for the nationwide deployment of Digital Phone, Time Warner Cable's residential Internet protocol ("IP") voice service.
Building on the successful rollout earlier this year in Portland, Maine, Time Warner Cable recently launched its residential IP phone service to select customers in North Carolina. The multiple-year deals with MCI and Sprint will help enable the company to continue its aggressive rollout throughout next year.
"We are pleased to partner with MCI and Sprint and benefit from their experience in delivering high quality phone service, their focus on customer service, and desire to be at the cutting edge of VoIP network development," said Time Warner Cable Chairman and CEO Glenn Britt. "Capitalizing on their local points of interconnection, our broadband cable system and the efficiencies and flexibility of IP technology, Time Warner Cable is now poised to deliver consumers local and long distance telephony services more efficiently, at a lower cost, and with the reliability and quality of service that customers require."
MCI and Sprint will assist Time Warner Cable in the provisioning of Digital Phone service to customers, termination of IP voice traffic to the public switched telephone network, delivery of enhanced 9-1-1 service, local number portability and carrying long distance traffic.
The agreement also marks a major expansion for MCI and Sprint into the cable wholesale market resulting in a prospective revenue stream with strong growth potential. Both companies plan to leverage their telecom assets and communications expertise in order to help drive this expansion and deliver telephony solutions.
"Time Warner Cable is a known leader in the industry and it is great to partner with them as they engage in another industry-first with the deployment of Digital Phone," said Paget Alves, president of strategic accounts, Sprint. "Sprint's value proposition to the cable industry makes sense as an alternative to cable operators' building their own voice infrastructure as well as leveraging our existing networks, management experience and technical knowledge. Our intent is to fulfill as many of their telecommunications needs as they want--from basic transport to a fully outsourced solution that includes network design, implementation and management, all backed by guaranteed performance and comprehensive support."
"The time has come for a new solution that delivers all of the simplicity, quality and value that customers want - full service communications, high-speed Internet and video -- all in one package, on one bill, from a single provider," said Jonathan Crane, MCI executive vice president of corporate development and strategy. "This partnership represents the next evolution in consumer communications - leveraging the added capabilities of cable and the global reach of the MCI IP network to create services that leave the old public switched network behind."
Digital Phone includes unlimited local, in-state and domestic long distance calling for one low monthly price. By leveraging new technology on its existing advanced managed network with quality of service standards, Time Warner Cable is able to offer phone service at a flat price and ensure that customers receive the level of quality offered by traditional telephone service.
Consumers switching to Digital Phone can keep their existing phone numbers and retain their directory listings. Standard features of the service include 411 directory assistance, 611 service calls, Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency service, operator assisted calls, call waiting, caller ID and voice mail. Additionally, the residential phone service connects to each telephone jack in the home by utilizing whole-home wiring.
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