Charter Biz Unit Nets Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Stamp

Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions, the commercial services unit of Charter Communications, said it has achieved Carrier Ethernet 2.0  certification from the Metro Ethernet Forum.

The achievement, also achieved by fellow operators such as Cox Communications, RCN, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, ensures that Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions is up to snuff on 2.0 attributes in areas of standards, scalability, reliability, quality of service and service management.

Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions said it has nearly 100 Carrier Ethernet Certified Professionals (MEF-CECP), an expert-level certification offered by the Metro Ethernet Forum to individuals.

"Achieving MEF 2.0 certification is an essential proof point for Spectrum Business carrier-class Ethernet services," said Cynthia Carpenter, vice president of commercial product management for Charter, in a statement.  "We are proud to have attained this important certification and look forward to continually serving business customers with enterprise-grade network and communications services."

As of mid-2015, Charter was in the “Challenge Tier” of Vertical Systems Group’s U.S. Carrier Ethernet Leaderboard, which designates providers that have between 1% and 4% share of the U.S. retail Ethernet market. Others in that group include Bright House Networks, Cogent, Lightpath (Cablevision Systems),  Windstream and Zayo.

AT&T topped all providers as of mid-2015, followed by Level 3 Communications, Verizon Communications, CenturyLink, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, XO and Cox.

Charter will move up substantially following its proposed acquisitions of TWC and  Bright House.