Earthlink 2014 Annual Report Download - page 8

Table of Contents
Managed Services
. We offer a broad range of managed services, including managed network services, security services, infrastructure services
and cloud services. By building, managing and securing networks and IT environments, we enable customers to focus on their core businesses.
We also help businesses to reduce costs for networks and IT spending by limiting their capital expenditures.
Professional Services.
We offer professional services to customers to evaluate the performance and security of their network, identify
vulnerabilities and compliance gaps of their network and to permit customers to offload key IT tasks. We use our professional services as a lead-
in to our data, voice and managed services offerings.
Carrier/Transport Services. We provide voice and data services to other communications carriers, to larger-
scale providers of network capacity
and to other businesses. Revenues from these services are generated from sales to other communications companies, including incumbent local
exchange carriers (“ILECs”), competitive local exchange carriers (“CLECs”),
wireless service providers, cable companies, ISPs and others. We
offer broadband transport services, including private line services, Ethernet private line services and wavelength services, that allow other
communications providers to transport the traffic of their end-
user or wholesale customers across our local and intercity network; local
communications services to ISPs and local dial tone communications services to service providers; nationwide live and automated operator and
directory assistance services; and dedicated Internet access services through our IP network and our direct connectivity to the IP networks of
ISPs.
Sales and Distribution
We market our Business Services through our direct sales force, independent sales channels and third-
party agents. Our direct sales force is
composed of sales personnel and technical consultants. Our independent channel partners leverage their business relationships with the customer
and act as sales agents for us. The channel partners include value-
added resellers, local area network consultants and other telecommunications
and IT consultants to businesses. Our third-party agents refer sales of our products and services to our direct sales force.
Our go-to-
market strategy is to focus on our highest growth products and highest growth customers. We focus our sales and marketing activities
by customer type (small business, mid-
market and enterprise) as well as by industry (retail, healthcare and financial services). To support our
sales efforts and promote our brand, we conduct marketing programs. Our marketing strategies include industry and proprietary events,
participation at trade shows, thought leadership, online media outlets, ongoing customer communication programs, training and sales support.
Network Infrastructure
We provide secure, efficient and reliable communications services primarily through an expansive fiber optic network, an advanced nationwide
MPLS network and switch and colocation facilities. We have seven enterprise-
class data centers on our fiber network which are fully integrated
with our nationwide IP network with four of those data centers employing next generation cloud architecture to support our services. Throughout
the network, advanced monitoring and management tools are in place to ensure performance and quality, bringing value and an enhanced
experience to our customers.
Fiber Optic Network
-
As of December 31, 2014, our advanced fiber optic network consisted of more than 29,000 route miles covering 30 states
plus the District of Columbia and provides for high-
quality wavelength, Ethernet, SONET, Internet access and virtual private networking
services. The network infrastructure is built on our Dense Wave Division Multiplexing, or DWDM, platform and core routers. With this network
we can offer native 100 Gig transport services across parts of our fiber footprint, offering customers the advantage of unique network routes for
enhanced redundancy and network diversity.
Nationwide MPLS Network
- Our nationwide network is based on MPLS, a highly-scalable and high-
performance packet transport system, with
a broad array of IP infrastructure positioned in strategic locations across the United States. We have interconnection agreements with major local
exchange carriers to lease unbundled network elements, as well as commercial services agreements with national communications companies,
CLECs, and cable and wireless service providers to provide last mile access to our customers and connectivity onto our network.
Colocation Facilities - With co-
located communications equipment within the central offices of ILECs and alternative access providers in
various markets in the United States, we offer remote facilities-
based local and long distance services in markets by using our switches in other
locations as hosts. Using our fiber optic network and leased facilities to connect our remote equipment to our switches, colocation provides cost-
efficient access to last mile facilities to connect to customers.
3