Bank of America Taps Lightware Provider

Bank of America has selected Broadwing, an optical-network service provider, to transmit mission-critical data among top major markets across the United States. The $70 million, ten-year agreement enables BofA's nationwide network to be based on Broadwing's lightwave services.

Since 1998, BofA has more than tripled the monthly amount of data transferred over its networks, prompting it to explore new bandwidth-intensive ways of helping customers. Cincinnati-based Broadwing was deemed capable of providing extensive bandwidth, high-speed connectivity, and fast provisioning of new services for customers.

"The capacity, reliability, diversity and security of Broadwing's network enables us to push the envelope by operating more efficiently," according to Ralph Ziegler, managing director of network services at Charlotte, N.C.-based BofA.

The new services enabled by Broadwing's optical network include optical imaging, which allows employees to quickly access digital images of customer documents including bills, checks, statements and applications.