Sans Carrier Ties, GLS Able to get Job Done

Managed network providers such as Global Linking Solutions (GLS) are not beholden to any given carrier; rather, they leverage their many relationships to develop the right solution at the best price point for the customer.

Take Paxson Communications. The owner and operator of 65 television stations and the television network PAX TV opted to cut its ties to WorldCom, its primary communications provider for the past five years.

"One thing that attracted us to GLS was that they weren't tied to any one carrier," said Lance Singer, network manager at Paxson, West Palm Beach, Fla. "We found ourselves in a pretty good situation having GLS on board in that we had the ability to shop around and see what fit best for us vs. a single carrier saying, 'This is how you have to do it.' "

Matthews-based GLS, along with fellow service provider Progressive Communications Management, opted to migrate Paxson's core frame relay network to Qwest Communications International and integrate additional services from BellSouth, Verizon and several other carriers.

Seemingly with a crystal ball in hand, Singer set an aggressive time line, with GLS finishing the migration two days before WorldCom filed for bankruptcy in July. GLS, Progressive Communications and Qwest were able to convert Paxson's 65 sites to the new network within three weeks.

The frame relay network is reserved for Paxson's core business applications, and GLS installed a VPN for smaller offices and remote users, including Paxson's entire sales force. Built-in redundancy was particularly important since 90 percent of Paxson's operations are consolidated in one location.

"We can use a variety of access pipes and methods and integrate it all together, which is uncommon for a single carrier to do, but it is a highly effective [solution in [that Paxson cut costs on a high-performance network that now has backup options," said Paul Melton, vice president of sales and marketing at GLS.

The new solution cut network costs by 22 percent in addition to cutting out red tape, Singer said. "I was spending about 15 percent of my time resolving billing issues with WorldCom," he said. "The new [billing process with Qwest is not perfect, but it's getting close."

The cost and time savings allow Singer to focus on evolving the network,including deploying high-speed ports in certain locations,and have given him extra budgeting room, he said.

In addition, Progressive Communications is working on new connectivity solutions for Paxson at the local and corporate levels.

Paxson is also utilizing GLS' managed services, including 24x7 network monitoring and management, with GLS acting as the tech support front line. GLS' managed services range from managed firewalls and VPNs to managed frame relay and private lines.

And more deals like the one with Paxson are under way, said Chris Murphy, COO of GLS. "Carriers are already starting to run their networks much closer to capacity, so we anticipate that's going to create an availability issue, and having a multicarrier, multisolution approach is a huge advantage to us and to customers," Murphy said.