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mammoth expands to arizona, new mexico

Mammoth Networks has expanded its wholesale Digital Subscriber Line service to Arizona and New Mexico. The expansion allows the company to offer DSL through its Partners to 156 additional communities.

Mammoth aggregates DSL in more than 600 cities in nine Western states, wholesaling network access to Service Providers that sell data connectivity. The company's network supports the creation of private Wide Area Networks (WANs) throughout its coverage area.

Mammoth allows its customers (termed Partners by the company) to connect Qwest DSL loops to the company's private network. Because Partners can use Mammoth's network, they can justify expanding their coverage areas and are able to service a Partner's end users more effectively. Without a wholesale option, Service Providers must order their own circuits within Qwest's territory, then build out a network to support their end users. The cost of building out a private network hinders most Service Providers from offering DSL outside their primary coverage area.

"We built Mammoth around a Service Provider's needs," says Brian Worthen, who oversees product development at Mammoth. "Our experience in the DSL arena has allowed us to share that knowledge, and ultimately our network, with others."

Worthen describes doing business with Mammoth as partner-centric. The company allows its Partners to order a DSL loop themselves, which gives them control over the loop. The Partner can have the DSL loop billed to them or the end user, and not have to purchase the loop from Mammoth. This lowers the cost of the DSL loop to the Partner, and gives them a choice of purchasing the loop on a month-to-month basis. The process is contrary to services offered by Mammoth's competitors, who require their customers to order the loop on a 12 month term and pay a markup on the loop itself.

Mammoth also allows its Partners to aggregate their end users back to a Partner's network. This allows the Partner to exhibit control over the end user's internet access, network configuration, and overall quality of service.

"In a three part DSL puzzle, we are providing the middle piece. The end pieces are managed by our Partners, we just bridge that gap," says Worthen.

Mammoth's network also supports the creation of private WANs, where multiple DSL locations can communicate privately without traveling the internet. The company built the network with that in mind, as private networks do not require firewall devices that add to an end user's ongoing administration cost. Mammoth provides this ability through its Partners, refusing to market directly to corporate end users. This is another example of the company's partner-centric attitude.

Worthen points out that most DSL providers have one presence in a community - at the telephone office. Because Mammoth is terminating Qwest's DSL product on its network, the company has access to Qwest's remote terminals, which provide DSL in far-flung subdivisions and business parks. DSL penetration in each community is higher, meaning Mammoth's Partners have access to more end users in those communities. Mammoth cites the 2,977 remote terminals Qwest rolled out in 2004, and the additional 2,526 remote terminals scheduled for a 2005 rollout.

Mammoth plans to introduce additional products in the coming months. Frame Relay and ATM circuits will be integrated into Mammoth's private WAN structure, in addition to private transport options.

Mammoth Networks is an aggregator of data services serving nine Western states. Mammoth enables its Partners by erasing the invisible lines of the telecommunications structure, and leveling the playing field for service providers. The privately-held company is based in Gillette, Wyoming and operates a sales office in Seattle, Washington.

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