MCI is deploying new technology that the company says will make it easier for the carrier to manage its IP VPN offerings and that should result in better customer service.

The carrier says it will spend at least $2 million on software from Voyence that it will use in part to improve its system for configuring and provisioning its IPSec-based IP VPN Dedicated services.

The VoyenceControl VPN Service Manager software will be used to support new MCI customer premises equipment (CPE)-based IP VPN shops as of December, but the carrier plans to migrate its other IP VPN Dedicated service users to the platform in the first quarter. The carrier also plans to extend the management system to its VPN Remote service, which is planned for next year.

"We've spent a lot of money automating our back-end processes in how we detect trouble, react and notify our customers," says Gene Clark, senior manager of product development at MCI. "We did this not only to control costs, but to improve quality of service."

Key to the new management platform is that it lets MCI manage a VPN service that supports CPE from "a long list of vendors," including Cisco, Lucent and Nortel, Clark says. Currently, MCI uses many element managers to support its IP VPN Direct service.

The system lets MCI network administrators drag and drop routers and add connections though a single interface. MCI has integrated the management system with its provisioning system so as soon as an order is placed a network design is created and entered into MCI's front-end system, Clark says. This will let MCI more quickly get new IP VPN customers up and running, he says.

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