Short Take: Covad offers VPN-over-DSL service

Covad Communications, a wholesaler of digital subscriber lines (DSL), has begun offering virtual private networks (VPN) over its DSL network. VPNs are a secure encrypted network connection, typically using the public Internet. Covad's VPN offering allows it to offer more pricing flexibility to its business DSL customers with multiple branch office locations. The company has already offered a national DSL-based network over its own private wires.