As seen in the May 3, 2010  COMPTEL Connection

Covad Communications
Headquarters: San Jose, CA 
www.covadwholesale.com/

Q: What does your company do and how long has it been in operation?
A: Founded in 1996, Covad combines broadband solutions with mission-critical service and support to create a superior customer experience.  Covad Wholesale provides a wide range of access and hub aggregation services, including Ethernet (up to 1 Gbps), nxT1, and xDSL services. We have a robust, next-generation IP/MPLS network that efficiently delivers integrated voice, video, and data solutions.  Whether you are looking to differentiate your offering with the most forward-looking services or enhance your market coverage, we make sure that our solutions are working for you.

Q: To what do you attribute your company’s success in the communications industry?
A: With a network that provides carriers with access to Covad's nationwide footprint in 45 states and 240 major metropolitan markets, connecting to Covad will rapidly expand your local access coverage while significantly reducing your network equipment expenditures, operating costs and time to market. Dozens of domestic and global carriers, from tier ones to independents, benefit from our comprehensive wholesale product portfolio.  We offer services that fit our customers' needs, whether they need turnkey solutions or a fully customized approach.  The Covad network is designed for service providers to easily and quickly connect their networks to the Covad network, and start delivering innovative new solutions.  You can rely on our experience and our state-of-the-art network presence nationwide in the U.S. to respond to the challenges you face. 

Q: What have been the biggest obstacles your company has faced in the marketplace?
A: Businesses are increasingly using broadband to deploy IP-based services to reduce costs and increase productivity, so Covad has evolved its own network to meet market demands. Covad's new MPLS infrastructure allows partners to deliver revenue-generating, value-added services on a national broadband network that is competitive with what the very largest carriers can offer.
The MPLS backbone will allow Covad to provide Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities that can be customized for real-time applications, such as voice and video. Covad's continued investment in the network, which includes enabling Ethernet services entering 2010, is something we really feel will be a competitive advantage going forward for our wholesale partners.

Q: What do you see as your greatest challenges going forward?
A: Covad is the “easy to do business with” company.  Keeping our customers one step ahead remains the core of our business imperative.  The company has invested in systems and products that make it easy for partners to order and provision reliable and secure services with the level of support and customer experience that they need.  The company strives to ensure the needs of every customer are met, no matter the size or scope of the business.  This is our biggest challenge and a consistent accomplishment.

Q: What have been some of your company’s most recent achievements (new customer wins, new service/product deployment, etc.)?
A: We enter 2010 having strengthened our capabilities and having launched more products and services in the last year than in any previous year. We started 2009 by completing a nationwide MPLS deployment and network capacity upgrades. We continued with the rollout of our first phase of Ethernet services, introduced higher bandwidth Ethernet options of up to 35 Mbps, added QoS/CoS upgrade capabilities, MPLS VPN, and expanded our footprint by 75 percent.  As a partner-centric wholesale company, we will continue to invest in ways to help keep our carrier partners competitive in the marketplace.

Q: Why is it important for your company to be a COMPTEL member?
A: COMPTEL is an association that represents telecommunications companies who strive to add to the economic growth of the country through innovation and next generation networks.  Covad has a rich tradition of innovation.  We seek to innovate in all aspects of our business to ensure that customers always have a better choice in their communications services.  It is this sense of innovation, along with a reliable next-generation nationwide network and superior customer experience that helps Covad keep its customers a step ahead.