Fixed Mobile Convergence

Verizon, a provider of broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services, has held on to its position as network leader via its expanded network capabilities as well as new deployments of its wireline and wireless technologies across a number of strategic projects. The company has been successful in addressing the needs of its clients by focussing on providing faster speeds, increased capacity, resilience, and efficiency on both operational and technological fronts. Currently, Verizon's global network covers 670,000 route miles and spans six continents.

Verizon is the first in the industry to deploy100 Gbps (gigabits per second) technology across various sections on its network in European and U.S. This includes a standards-based, multivendor 100 gigabit Ethernet link deployed over a section of its long-haul network in Europe, effectively increasing both performance and capacity for customers. Its network in the U.S. has a 100 Gbps technology deployment over its ultra-long-haul optical system connecting Chicago and New York, again building on scalability and efficiency. Deployment of such advanced technologies brings down latency and increases capacity per fiber to bring down costs.

Additionally, Verizon and NEC Corporation of America collaborated over a field trial for the transmission of high bit-rate technologies, coexisting on the same fiber. This enabled measurement of signal quality across all channels and tracking intensity of the optical signal, which proved that these "super-channels" were capable of greater capacities and could effectively enhance spectral efficiency without compromising on distance.

Verizon's acquisitions in 2011 include Terremark, provider of cloud solutions and IT consulting services as well as CloudSwitch, provider of cloud software technology. These acquisitions earned the company a ranking among 10 of the most powerful cloud companies in Network magazine's year-end list.

Verizon Wireless has deployed its 4G LTE (News - Alert) network across more than 190 markets within the U.S. till date. The agreement between Verizon and SpectrumCo (a joint venture between Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks) lead to the acquisition of 122 Advanced Wireless Services spectrum licenses by Verizon and an agreement under which all companies involved would focus on development of technology to drive integration between wireline and wireless products and services.

Verizon also demonstrated full-resolution high-definition 3D transmission via a premium TV service provider over its high-bandwidth FiOS (News - Alert) network. Streaming of Full HD 3D, was carried out by Verizon and Panasonic over Verizon's fully fiber-optic FiOS TV service.

A report from the Federal Communications Commission on residential wireline broadband service discussed and confirmed that FiOS Internet from Verizon provided 114 percent of upload and download speeds advertised in peak hours. The report also confirmed that Verizon's FiOS Internet speed was crucial within the expanding market of interactive Internet.

Building on the strength of its FiOS network, Verizon has introduced a number of new entertainment experiences such as accessing of FiOS TV on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, MY FiOS app and Google (News - Alert) Apps for Verizon, and MTV Networks, among others.

Verizon also upgraded the submarine cable SEA-ME-WE4 to 40 Gbps, allowing business clients in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East to benefit from increased capacity and performance and enhanced scalability. Furthermore, the Europe India Gateway (News - Alert) cable was activated as well to deliver increased diversity and capacity for addressing communication requirements of multinational organizations. The company entered into a network alliance with Dialog Axiata to drive expansion of its Private IP network capabilities to the emerging commerce markets of Sri Lanka.

A fiber-optic network expansion project in Singapore undertaken by Verizon has further expanded the company's network coverage and increased capacity for its enterprise customers with business interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

Across Asia-Pacific and Europe, Verizon has effectively expanded its Internet Dedicated service as well as expanded its Private IP services across the globe to support traffic over next-generation Internet Protocol, IPv6 and to ensure un-interrupted internet service. This has enabled the company's clients in exchanging IPv6 traffic over multiple formats on the global public Internet backbone as well as private IP network of the company.

In 2011 Verizon was positioned within the Leaders quadrant by Gartner (News - Alert) in the report, "Magic Quadrant for Global Network Service Providers. The company has also been recognized with the Metro Ethernet Forum's highest honor of 2011 Global Service Provider of the Year for two consecutive years.