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October 11, 2001
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NTT Communications to Introduce Global IP Network Service SLA |
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| NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) announced today that it will introduce the Internet industry's highest Service Level Agreement (SLA)*1 for its Global IP Network Service, which is a high-quality Internet backbone access service. NTT Com also plans to launch its Global IP Security Gateway Service, which will be provided to ISPs worldwide to allow them to globally develop IPSec*2-based IP-VPN*3 services for corporate users. NTT Com today applied to the Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications for authorization to launch the aforementioned services from November 2001. NTT Com has been providing value-added services, such as global server load balancing, via the NTT/Verio Global IP Network, which encompasses the United States, Europe and Asia. The addition of the SLA and Global IP Security Gateway Service will enhance the company's highly value-added services. About the Global IP Network Service SLA 1. Service outline All customers using NTT Com's Global IP Network will be guaranteed minimum performance standards for the following four areas of service. If these standards are not met, NTT Com will refund a fixed portion of its charges. A) Availability NTT Com guarantees in principle that its network will function 100% of the time. In the event that service is completely disrupted due to circumstances caused by NTT Com, and if NTT Com cannot correct the problem within 15 minutes of identifying it, NTT Com will issue refunds depending on the total downtime. SLA coverage is for the customer router at the NTT Com premise. Refunds when minimum service standards are breached are as follows:
B) Latency NTT Com guarantees in principle the following times regarding round-trip packet transmission (hereafter referred to as latency) within the NTT/Verio Global IP Network. If these timeframes are exceeded, 1/30th of the monthly charges will be refunded.
C) Packet Loss NTT Com will maintain monthly average packet loss rate of 0.3% within the NTT/Verio Global IP Network. In the event the standard packet-loss rate is exceeded, 1/30th of the monthly charges will be refunded. D) Customer Notification In the event of NTT Com's Global IP Network Service outage, NTT Com will notify the customer of the malfunction within 30 minutes of its identification. In the event the standard time is exceeded, 1/30th of the monthly charges will be refunded. 2. Applications and charges The SLA is applicable to all Global IP Network Service customers, therefore no application is necessary. Furthermore, no additional charges will be levied. The refund's upper limit is the monthly charges, and customers will be asked to claim their refunds via NTT Com within 60 days of the minimum service standards breach. About the Global IP Security Gateway Service 1. Service Outline Global IP Security Gateway Service is a service in which NTT Com and partner ISPs together provide an end-to-end IP-VPN to the ISPs' corporate customers. NTT Com will provide partner ISPs with ports to gateway equipment, which will be set up over the Global IP Network, thus enabling ISPs to globally expand their domestic IPSec-based IP-VPN service. Having partner ISPs directly connected to the NTT/Verio Global IP Network ensures high-quality end-to-end IP-VPN service globally. 2. Service Areas The service will be provided to ISPs in Japan, the United States, Asia, Oceania and Europe. 3. Service Features Although this service is targeted at ISPs, corporate customers of the partner ISPs will be able to enjoy the following advantages: A) Cost Effective Leveraging the Global IP Secure Gateway Service allows companies to no longer have to rely on costly private lines. B) Scalable Customers will be provided with worldwide service coverage, thanks to ISPs being directly connected to the NTT/Verio Global IP Network. C) CPE*4-Flexible Interoperable with a variety of customer premise equipment (CPE) for configuring a private network, a powerful feature for extranet applications. D) Easy operation and speedy expansion of customers' sites IP-VPN network operations will be concentrated at the gateway equipment on the NTT/Verio Global IP Network, which will make it easy to change configuration in the private networks without changing the settings of each participating CPE. Accordingly, the service can be expanded flexibly and speedily to accommodate additional corporate user sites. E) Secure and Fast Provides a secure, protected, reliable, and fast means of transmitting data. F) Best Customer Support The IP-VPN user network will be supervised on a round-the-clock basis, 365 days a year. In case of outage, NTT Com will take prompt measures along with partner ISPs. Notes: *1 Service Level Agreement: A system where NTT Com and a customer reach an agreement regarding service quality in advance. When the service quality standard cannot be met, NTT Com will refund the pre-agreed amount. *2 IPSec protocol: A protocol standardized by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) for authentication and encryption to enhance the security of TCP/IP (transmission control protocol over IP). *3 IP-VPN (Internet protocol virtual private network): A service in which network sharers utilize a network as if it were private. *4 CPE: VPN equipment for encryption located at the customer's site. |
