JATO Communications Teams with Lucent For DSL Services

JATO Communications Corp., a data-based competitive local exchange carrier (data CLEC), has chosen Lucent Technologies to support its launch of high-speed Internet and remote LAN access services to small and mid-size businesses using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. The seven-year agreement is valued at up to $50 million.

Lucent will provide JATO with access and data networking products, including Lucent's PacketStar AC120 access concentrators as well as DSL equipment based on Lucent's OEM agreement with Copper Mountain Networks. The JATO deal represents the first significant customer resulting from the OEM pact was signed in December 1998.

Lucent will provide installation, monitoring, and maintenance of JATO's network through Lucent's NetCare Data Services organization and co-marketing support.

JATO will offer multiple types of DSL services with transmission speeds ranging from 144 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps. The CLEC is targeting under-served markets in 14 contiguous western and southwestern states and currently is offering DSL services on a trial basis in Denver. JATO's target market includes: AZ, CO, ID, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, NM, OK, OE, TX, UT, and WA—a market that represents an estimated 800,000 businesses and eight million residences.