Frame Relay Service provides high-speed data transmission for bursty LAN interconnection applications and is particularly well suited to handle distributed processing applications, such as client/server computing, peer-to-peer connections, and Internet access. Frame Relay is the ideal technology to establish LAN-to-LAN connections and distributed client/server networks. Applications include sending X-rays from a small hospital to a university specialist, layouts to a printer, financial data from one brokerage firm to another or inventory reorders to plants and suppliers. With Frame Relay, LANs at one or more locations can have access to information that resides on mainframes or servers that are not co-located.

Customers who will benefit from Frame Relay include those with:

• High speed requirements
• Interactive or bursty traffic
• Dedicated lines to multiple sites
• Geographically dispersed sites
• Multi-vendor, multi-protocol environment
• Strategic supplier relationships (including outsourcing)
• Legacy IBM infrastructure

HOW IT WORKS

Frames are variable-length packets of data that are created when a stream of information from an end user's device (a PC, terminal, or LAN) is sent to frame-relay specific equipment and divided into smaller parts. Each frame includes the data plus the network address and error detection information.

Instead of using costly duplicate lines to connect multiple locations, Frame Relay Service uses the public network to give you multiple Permanent Virtual Connections (PVCs) which are pre-established paths through the frame relay network. These PVCs provide multiple-site connectivity all through the same access line. They allow the customer to obtain information on their Frame Relay Network - such as port and PVC status and PVC address assignments - and they provide real-time alarms if a problem occurs on the network.

Optional Features

Basic and Verizon Frame Relay Service offers features and flexibility to manage the evolving needs of your business.

Verizon Frame Relay Service consists of Port/User-to-Network Interfaces (UNIs) with:

• Digital Access at 56 Kbps, 384 Kbps, 1.5 Mbps and HSFR (45 Mbps): 64 Kbps and High Speed Frame Relay (4, 6, and 22 Mbps)where available.
• NX64 (128, 256, 512 and 768 Kbps) available at Enterprise
• Fractional Service locations only.
• Improved Customer Service Management (CSM) Web-based reports (where available).
• Backup UNI for disaster recovery (where available).
• Frame Relay to ATM Service Interworking capabilities (where available). Complementary long distance (interLATA) service arrangements with inter-exchange carriers.
• Multiple PVCs supported per access line.
• Local management interface to customer data equipment.
• DS3/OC-3c ATM Backbone Trunking.

HOW YOU BENEFIT

Verizon Frame Relay Service offers advantages over private line and X.25 networks.

Increased bandwidth: Frame Relay gives you more bandwidth applications with less delay.

Reduced equipment investment: You can reduce cost by replacing private line and dial-up networks with a single Frame Relay network. Eliminate duplicate network facilities, equipment resources, and the number of equipment ports and lines required.

No usage cost: Frame Relay Service is flat rate and non-usage sensitive. You can plan and control your monthly costs more effectively, regardless of how often or from where you transmit data.

Flexibility: Verizon Frame Relay Service offers you the features and flexibility needed (such as varying speed, inter-working capability and backup for disaster recovery) to manage the evolving needs of your business. In addition, new sites or locations can be easily added.

Reliability: Service reliability is assured through the redundancy of network components and a high-speed ATM backbone network with automatic alternate routing.

Network management: A single point of contact for your entire Frame Relay network, 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that you can focus on your core business.

For more information regarding Frame Relay:

Former GTE customers please click here.
Former Bell Atlantic customers please click here