Two weeks after Canada based Cogeco Cable announced its plans to deploy high-speed Internet and VoIP in Ontario, a company based in neighbor USA has announced the same in its own region. DirecTV has signed a wholesale distribution agreement with CURRENT Group that will allow it to offer high-speed Internet and VoIP services. The services will premiere in Dallas, Texas, at the end of 2007 or early 2008.
DirecTV is one of America’s leading satellite television service providers, reaching out to more than 16.3 million customers. It has reached a wholesale distribution agreement with the CURRENT Group, a company which builds an internet overlay on to existing electric wires worldwide, and provides sensing technology, two-way high-speed communication, 24/7 monitoring and analytic software and related services to provide location-specific and real-time actionable data. CURRENT’s solutions also allow consumers and business users to access high-speed Internet access and voice services from virtually any electric outlet. On top of that, the solutions also improve the reliability of the electric grid and reduce its environmental impacts.
Under the terms of the agreement, DirecTV will now be able to sell BPL (Broadband Over Powerline) high-speed Internet and VoIP services as part of their bundles in Dallas, even as The CURRENT Group continues to build its network.
"Our agreement with CURRENT gives our customers another high-quality, easy- to-use option to pair broadband services with DIRECTV’s video offerings," said Evan Grayer, vice president of Broadband for DIRECTV. “By choosing this bundled option, DIRECTV customers will now be able to enjoy fast, reliable and secure high-speed Internet service anywhere they have a power outlet in their homes.
DirecTV customers will be able to access the Internet by plugging a BPL modem (which, incidentally, is faster than a typical cable modem) into virtually any outlet in their home. The Dallas area has a potential market of approximately 1.8 million homes and business over the next several years. That means 1.8 Million potential VoIP users, who will all have access to free/cheap internet calling all over the world. Of course, with basic Internet and VoIP services already in line, there’s always the possibility of other companies trying to build on that VoIP facility – conference calls, call waiting, video calling, and the like. Who knows, maybe someday, there might even be Hosted PBX through the BPL.
Commenting on the deal, Tom Casey, CEO of CURRENT, said that the company is pleased to partner with DirecTV and to offer them the ability to bundle their world-satellite video services together with BPL high-speed Internet and VoIP services.
"Consumers in Dallas will have a compelling new choice for their broadband service and, at the same time, feel good about the fact that the same Internet network is helping to improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric grid while reducing its environmental impact." He said.
So now, we even have VoIP over electric lines… what will they think of next?
This article is written by Samarth Chandola. This is his last article. Today, I would like to announce that Samarth has resigned from the position of VOIP News Editor. This position is now OPEN and we are actively looking for a VOIP News editor. This is a paid position. If anyone is interested,you can contact me at ut.godmode(at)gmail.com.
A short note for Samarth: He excelled at his job as a VOIP News editor. I am sure all readers are going to miss him and hopefully we have someone as good as Samarth to take this forward.
0 comments:
Post a Comment