Charter Business and Time Warner Cable Business Class announced today they will collaborate in the installation of high-speed, fiber optic connections to support the needs of businesses located in each company’s service area.

This agreement will allow the two companies to seamlessly interconnect their optical Ethernet services for customers who want to connect distant locations in North and South Carolina.

“This agreement represents an alternative for businesses that need to communicate with other offices or businesses located in the Carolinas and neighboring states,” said Jim McGann, vice president and general manager, Charter Business. “While customers have always been able to obtain fiber optic network services from us for their locations within the Charter Business and in the Time Warner Cable service footprint, connecting locations across two footprints meant having to use a mainstream telco provider. Now, businesses have the convenience of seamless connectivity, one bill and one number to call with Charter and Time Warner. This arrangement will allow us to service markets that range from rural to metropolitan areas.”

Optical Ethernet service, carried over fiber optic facilities, represents the latest and most efficient means through which data communications can be carried to support business needs. A report earlier this year by Infonetics Research said carrier Ethernet switch and router manufacturer revenues grew 132 percent from 2005 to 2006 with a forecast of $9.1 billion by 2010. 

“Our network can serve as a disaster recovery option for business customers because our fiber routes are independent of those used by the telephone company,” stated Bo Coughlin, regional VP for business services at Time Warner Cable. “Since we own and operate our own fiber network, we are also able to increase the bandwidth allocated to individual customers at a moment’s notice – something not always available with the kind of technology offered by telcos.”

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