We’ve been following the ongoing strategy of diversification through the expansion of hosted IP services among tier 2 and 3 telcos for some time now. The latest example comes to us from TDS Telecom who announced today the expansion of their managedIP product to several new markets.
TDS’ managedIP service provides a hosted Internet Protocol (IP) communications suite which integrates voice and data into a single pipe solution, delivered across TDS’ managed IP backbone. TDS customers don’t need to purchase equipment for the unified solution. TDS tells Telecompetitor that the managedIP suite is built on a Broadsoft platform and as of September 30th had 23,400 active workstations. TDS also utilizes Metaswitch and Cisco platforms for IP enabled services.
TDS is expanding the availability of the product to new markets in Alabama, Maine, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. ManagedIP is now available in approximately 100 markets across 13 states, up from 90 markets in 9 states.
Headquartered in Madison, Wis., TDS operates in approximately 120 primarily rural markets across the U.S. They operate approximately 1.2 million access lines and their parent company also owns wireless subsidiary U.S. Cellular.
TDS joins other tier 2 and 3 telcos who see these types of products as key in their effort to grow revenue in the broadband and SMB/enterprise segments, as revenues in legacy TDM services continue to decline. Windstream is following a similar aggressive strategy.
“ManagedIP is now our ‘flagship’ commercial product. It is our # 1 priority and we believe a differentiator for businesses. It demonstrates our commitment to innovation. We will continue to expand this communications solution to businesses in more areas in the coming year,” TDS spokeswoman Cindy Tomlinson tells Telecompetitor.
