Fairpoint Insists They're On Schedule. Really.When done, New England users should see better coverage...
09:52AM Wednesday Sep 24 2008 by Karl Bodetags: dsl · business · Verizon Online DSL · Fairpoint CommunicationsDespite two significant delays, Fairpoint's CEO this week insisted the handover of Verizon's networks in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont is on target. You'd hope so, given they only just bumped the crossover target to January
last week. Fairpoint's task isn't a small one as this interesting
Telecom Online report indicates; the company has to consolidate 617 systems and a hundred individual databases into 60 integrated systems at one time. If all goes well, residents in those states should hopefully see broader DSL penetration:
Prior to the takeover, Verizon had only 16 percent availability of broadband access in the Northern New England properties that FairPoint purchased. Alternatively, FairPoint claims to have up to 92 percent of broadband penetration in its other legacy territories outside of New England.
Of course as was the concern during regulatory approval, the integration and improvement of existing systems could push this expansion onto a back burner. Fairpoint's currently paying Verizon $16 million a month to help operate these networks until they're up and running. But Fairpoint insists they're dedicated to a three-part infrastructure upgrade for New England customers: an IP/MPLS core network, a transport/aggregation network with 10 GigE rings and a last mile blend of ADSL2+, VDSL2, FTTH and even wireless technologies.
