SYRACUSE — After expanding its Syracuse data center nearly two years ago, Watertown–based Westelcom Networks is ready to continue that expansion with new clients in the Syracuse market. Westelcom has operated a data center in the State Tower Building on 109 S. Warren St. since about 1998, says Paul Barton, company president. In March 2018, […]
SYRACUSE — After expanding its Syracuse data center nearly two years ago, Watertown–based Westelcom Networks is ready to continue that expansion with new clients in the Syracuse market.
Westelcom has operated a data center in the State Tower Building on 109 S. Warren St. since about 1998, says Paul Barton, company president. In March 2018, after maxing out the capacity, Westelcom acquired an additional 2,400 square feet of space. “That data center is set up as a carrier-neutral colocation center,” Barton says.
That means Westelcom works with a variety of service providers, which allows carriers to interconnect and offer wider coverage, he says. When the new center opened, it highlighted its wide range of options for dedicated internet access and regional connectivity as well as direct access to Google, Amazon, and Microsoft cloud platforms.
The next step, Barton says, is to begin offering internet and voice service in the Syracuse area.
Westelcom focuses on mission-critical level services — offering services that rarely if ever fail to businesses that need a connection at all times. The company’s networks are on rings so they can reroute if needed. Customers receive dual connections so there is a backup if one fails. Westelcom also offers a mission-critical app that allows customers to see network stats, submit tickets for issues, and receive threat-intelligence information.
“Our focuses are really on businesses that need highly reliable services,” Barton says.
Health care is a large market for Westelcom, which provides managed internet services to 10 hospitals, more than 120 medical facilities, and a number of telemedicine networks. The company also offers services to more than 70 school locations and several industrial parks in Watertown and Plattsburgh.
In preparation for offering internet and voice services in Syracuse, Westelcom is deploying software-defined large-area networks, which will help the company provide customers with two connections from two different carriers.
“It’s affordable for a smaller business or, say, a branch of a bank,” Barton says. “We can also integrate wireless connections into it.”
The connections do not need to be Westelcom connections, he adds. It can be any two connections from any two providers, which means customers have a wider array of options to choose from and can pick the carriers that work best for them. In those cases, Westelcom still installs the equipment and manages the connection for the customer.
“There’s a lot of competition in Syracuse,” Barton says. Westelcom will first focus its efforts on the greatest need and where the company can deliver services quickly.
The company, which has more than 50 employees, will reach out to businesses on existing infrastructure that need critical-level services and that it can serve immediately, he says. “We have been focused on and delivering successful mission-critical level services for 19 years.” That track record will speak for itself with potential customers, he contends.
Westelcom (www.westelcom.com) provides telecommunication services throughout Northern New York between Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. Services over the company’s fiber network include telephone, long distance, high-speed broadband, dedicated internet, and private Ethernet network services. The company operates additional data centers in Watertown and Plattsburgh. Chazy Westport Telephone Corporation owns Westelcom.
