Embarq Migrates Millionth Customer to Packet

Embarq has migrated its one millionth customer from a circuit network to a packet network. The company began its packet conversion with Nortel in May of 2003 serving customers in Gardner, Kan. Since that time, Embarq has steadily progressed moving customers to the new network technology.

To support Embarq’s network migration, Nortel has deployed its Carrier VoIP and Metro Ethernet solutions, including the Communication Server (CS) 2000 and Metro Ethernet Router Switch (MERS) 8600 as well as provided turn-key migration services from the Nortel Global Services Portfolio.

“The platform allows us to provide converged voice and data services,” said Jim Hansen, senior vice president of Network Services for Embarq. “Products like an integrated voicemail platform serving both wireline and wireless devices, or Smart Connect where customers’ phones switch seamlessly between a wireline and wireless network aren’t as practical on a circuit-based network, and much more difficult to make available. The packet network makes it easier for us to make innovative products available to our customers much more quickly than in the past.”http://www.embarq.com

• Embarq, the former local communications division of Sprint, completed its spin-off from its parent company in May 2006.