TULSA, Okla. -- WilTel Communications today announced a collaborative relationship with Hydro One Telecom Inc., a Canadian broadband services provider, to deliver its Ethernet Wide-Area Network (EWAN) service cross-border to HydroOne customers that need wide-area Ethernet coverage in the United States. The relationship also extends WilTel's EWAN coverage to multiple locations throughout Ontario, Canada, for WilTel customers who need access to that market.

WilTel's EWAN service is an end-to-end layer 2 switched Ethernet service that provides point-to-point Ethernet (E-Line) and multipoint Ethernet (E-LAN) services along with seamless frame relay/ATM interworking capabilities. EWAN won runner-up for Best Backbone at the 2004 SUPERQwest Awards.

"Hydro One Telecom is delighted to partner with WilTel in providing enterprise customers cross-border Ethernet solutions," said Brian Nelson, vice president of sales for Hydro One Telecom. "We believe that WilTel's advanced network infrastructure and product leadership will offer enterprise customers cost-effective, scaleable solutions for their North American networking requirements."

Tony Tomae, senior vice president of marketing for WilTel, said HydroOne's customers can take advantage of EWAN's flexible service capabilities.

"Because of the unique capability of EWAN to bridge Ethernet to Frame Relay and ATM, Hydro One's customers in Canada can extend the reach of their wide-area networks in the U.S., seamlessly integrating existing layer 2 sites. This bridging functionality helps drive cost efficiencies into their networks."

WilTel Communications Group Inc.

Hydro One Telecom