HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast Business today announced that Port Houston, a flagship hub for international trade in the United States, is using Comcast’s fiber-based Ethernet for reliable network access to support its operations. Using the Comcast network, Port Houston now has gigabit-level capacity to handle mission-critical tasks imperative to provide network connectivity to eight publicly owned and operated terminals.
Established more than a century ago, the greater Port of Houston is the largest port in the state of Texas. It is comprised of nearly 200 private and eight public terminals. Port Houston (i.e. the Port of Houston Authority, a local government agency) owns, operates or leases the public terminals. Its primary activities are handling imports and exports of containers, general and breakbulk cargo.
Port Houston handles the largest breakbulk tonnage and special projects cargo in the country and its two container terminals, Barbours Cut and Bayport combined are responsible for handling nearly 70 percent of all container cargo through the U.S. Gulf Coast.
“On average, we run 5,000 to 7,000 trucks through two container terminals every weekday and to get them processed through the terminal as quickly as possible requires a high-speed network,” said Ron Farrow, Director, Information Technology – Infrastructure, Port Houston.
Initially, having its container terminals running on isolated operating systems for each terminal, Port Houston decided to revamp its network to connect all four of its locations, including an off-site data center, using a single Comcast fiber ring. To store data, optimize its workloads and execute mission-critical applications, Port Houston has deployed Ethernet Network Service (ENS) with 2 Gigabits per second (Gbps) performance at two sites that provide direct connectivity back to specific locations to share inventory, container location and other essential information pertinent to its core mission. Port Houston is also using Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) to serve as one of its premium circuits for all Port Houston locations.
“Port Houston has been a preeminent leader in U.S. commerce and trade for more than a century and serves as a key mainstay in the region,” said John Phillips, Regional Vice President, Comcast Business. “To continue in this capacity for the next century, it’s paramount that Port Houston has the network infrastructure required to be more efficient and produce quicker than ever. Port Houston understands this and has been a long-term ally of Comcast Business. We’re here to serve them long into the future.”
About Port Houston
For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals of the Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the nation. It supports the creation of nearly 1.175 million jobs in Texas and 2.7 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling almost $265 billion in Texas – 16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product – and more than $617 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the Port of Houston’s website at: www.portofhouston.com.
About Comcast Business
Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services.
For more information, call 866-429-3085 or visit https://business.comcast.com/local/texas/houston. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the XFINITY brand. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.