WorldCom Launches Ethernet Services

WorldCom

The suite of services includes Internet Dedicated Ethernet, Internet Dedicated Gigabit Ethernet Port Only, Metro Private Line Ethernet, WAN Private Line Ethernet and Enterprise Ethernet Metro Services.

The services are now available in 84 U.S. markets.

The services are being rolled out at a time when WorldCom is struggling on several fronts. The carrier Monday was dropped from the Standard and Poor 500 Index and its stock slipped by 20 cents to $1.24 on Tuesday.

Following the news, more than 670 million WorldCom shares change hands Tuesday, making it the highest-traded Nasdaq stock ever over a one-day period and breaking the previous high of 308.7 million shares of Intel stock trading hands on September 22, 2000.

Last week, Moody's Investor Service cut WorldCom's debt rating to junk status and Standard and Poor's cut the carrier's bonds to junk status.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating the company's accounting practices. Arthur Andersen audited WorldCom, as well as Qwest Communications and Global Crossing, which are also being investigated by the SEC.