Verizon Announces New Framework for Wholesale Customers

Verizon Communications unveiled a new framework for commercial agreements with its wholesale customers, offering customized, three-year agreements, restructured pricing and a number of high-value services not required under existing, government-mandated UNE-p requirements.



Verizon said its "Wholesale Advantage" plan offers a framework for reaching agreements on negotiated, commercially reasonable terms and ensures the continued availability of end-to-end wholesale services after a federal court order becomes effective this summer. The company is seeking one-on-one negotiations with its competitors.



Final terms and rates in any commercial agreement will be based on where the wholesale customer operates, the volumes purchased and other factors. Verizon expects the new monthly recurring charge for Wholesale Advantage service in the first year of an agreement to range from $20 to $24 in the urban and suburban markets where today the substantial majority of lines are purchased at regulated rates. In each of the two subsequent years, average monthly charges would increase by $1 to $2.



In addition, under Wholesale Advantage, wholesale customers can negotiate for additional services to sell, such as DSL and voice mail. Furthermore, Verizon's current business-to-business ordering processes will continue unchanged under Wholesale Advantage. Verizon will continue to provide the same on-line electronic order processing and other features and functionality that it provides today. http://www.verizon.com