The @Home Network and NorthPoint Communications will team up to offer high-speed Net access over copper wires, dubbed DSL, to small businesses later this year.
The announcement could be seen as a divergent course of action for cable Net access firm @Home. The company long has touted cable access, a competing technology to DSL (digital subscriber lines). But the service will be offered through the company's @Work business-services division, which also uses phone lines to provide Net access to small companies.
"We really think cable is the winner in the consumer space," an @Home spokesman said. But for small and medium-sized businesses, the company wants to offer other options as well.
Today's deal calls for @Work, @Home's business division, to provide DSL service in several major metropolitan areas during the next year, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington. The DSL option with NorthPoint, a telecommunications carrier, will offer businesses a mid-level option with speeds between that of ISDN and T-1 service.
@Work also will buy a minority equity stake in NorthPoint, but the companies will not discuss the size of the investment, a spokeswoman said.
Discuss: @Home to offer DSL service
Be respectful, keep it clean and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.