ATLANTA-BellSouth Corp. unveiled its Wireless Data Backup solution for business customers that utilizes Cingular Wireless L.L.C.’s EDGE network to back up BellSouth’s existing wireline data networks in case of an outage. BellSouth noted the solution is the first jointly developed offering with its wireless subsidiary.
BellSouth said the solution uses a redundant router equipped with an EDGE-compatible wireless PC modem card at each location that requires wireless data backup. A dedicated line is installed from Cingular’s network to the customer’s headquarters location to route backup traffic over the private network instead of the public Internet.
BellSouth explained that in a wireline network outage, the operational data would be routed from the outlying location to headquarters using Cingular’s EDGE network, which provides average network speeds of between 75 kilobits per second and 135 kbps. BellSouth added that the solution also will be enabled for Cingular’s upcoming UMTS/HSDPA network, which is expected to be available in more than a dozen markets by the end of the year and in most major markets by the end of 2006. Cingular said the UMTS/HSDPA network provides average network speeds of between 400 kbps and 700 kbps.
BellSouth said it expects the backup solution to appeal to all market segments with immediate applications in the retail and financial industries, including point of sale networks and automated teller machines.
Cingular launched its wireless backup solution earlier this year, and said it has seen strong uptake of the offering. The carrier offers pooled monthly plans beginning at $12 for 1 megabyte of data transmission, up to $55 per month for 55 megabytes of transmission.
In a separate announcement, BellSouth said it expanded its wireless broadband network in Athens, Ga., with a third radio tower. The wireless broadband service uses a pre-WiMAX technology and BellSouth’s licensed BRS and WCS spectrum. The service is also available in Palatka, Fla., and New Orleans.
