America Online, Inc. and Ameritech this week formed a strategic
alliance to provide broadband digital subscriber line services to AOL
members in five states.
As part of a multi-year agreement, Ameritech will accelerate installation
of asymmetric digital subscriber line technology into phone switching
centers that will serve 8 million homes by the end of 2001.
America Online will use Ameritech’s commercial DSL service to offer
high-speed access to AOL members in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and
Wisconsin.
The companies also announced that they would join in a cable modem trial
later this year in the Chicago area. The multiple Internet Service Provider
field tests are designed to demonstrate that technology exists to make
consumer choice feasible.
Bob Pittman, AOL president and chief operating, AOL is committed to finding
new ways to offer members high-speed access options.
“By partnering with telecommunications leaders like Ameritech, and
exploring all means of access, we are delivering on the promise of the
interactive medium and helping to make broadband access a reality for the
mass market consumer.”
With the Ameritech deal inked, AOL’s can currently provide broadband access
to about 55 percent of all U.S. households.
