BT dips toe into metro Ethernet

BT's new metropolitan Ethernet WAN service will securely link multiple offices inside the M25 at speeds up to 1Gbit/s, but comes at a high price.

The firm said its Ethernet Virtual LAN (Evlan) service will be priced at around £10,000 to install and £5,000 or more per month per 10Mbit/s link.

“BT’s rivals have been offering similar VPLS services on a national basis for some time,” said Nigel Pitcher, marketing director at carrier Fibrenet, which offers a 100Mbit/s Ethernet service for around £48,000 per annum.

BT spokesman Martin Maters responded, “Fibrenet’s service is contended [between many customers], whereas Evlan is not.” BT’s prices will be even higher for sites more than 25km from six London points of presence, as it will have to install new fibre.

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