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Homegrown telecom is good for business
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Published with the October 1, 2013 Baton Rouge Business Report. Copyright © 2013 Louisiana Business Inc. Special Advertising Section.
When Fred Norris and Anona Banker established EATEL—then known as the Gonzales Telephone Exchange— as a phone company in 1935, they likely could not have imagined what the communications industry would be like today.
Yet, in the 78 years since the company began operating out of the Banker’s Southeast Louisiana home, EATEL has stayed at the forefront of the rapidly evolving industry, earning a reputation as a communications pioneer, business leader and integral part of the community in the process. Today, EATEL provides data and Internet, TV, and phone services. With a loyal customer base long established in Ascension and Livingston parishes, EATEL Business recently expanded into the Baton Rouge business market.
“Managed communication services change so rapidly, it can be difficult for businesses to keep up,” says Ashley Phillips, EATEL’s chief operating officer. “We’re constantly investing in technological innovations and developing our products and services, so we can bring the latest and greatest technologies to our business customers.”
EATEL has a history of being on the leading edge of technology, which means it can deliver powerful benefits not only to residential customers, but to Baton Rouge-area businesses as well.
“EATEL was one of the first companies to employ digital switches, DSL and high definition on demand, and we offered a 100% fiber-optic network before most people had even heard of it,” Phillips says. “We understand that, for businesses, communication is their lifeblood. They need faster connections, more bandwidth, reliable service and phone systems with advanced communications capabilities. From hosted PBX services to our state-of-the-art fiber-optic technology, we can fulfill any customer’s needs.”
EATEL couples its cutting-edge products with experience and customer service that are second-to-none.
“On the technology side, we have more experience than anyone in the state,” Phillips says. “But our customer service sets us apart. We live and work in this community. We know what it means if a hurricane forces a business to evacuate or shut down its phones. Our local presence means we understand the community in a way you won’t find from national suppliers.”
Dedication to the community is evident in EATEL’s philanthropy, as well. “Part of our responsibility is to be a good corporate citizen,” Phillips says. “We’re a family-owned business, so a commitment to education, family activities and the local community are things we value as a company.”
Phillips says EATEL looks forward to continuing to grow its presence in Baton Rouge. “We’re always looking for opportunities to bring solutions to the business sector,” he says. “We’ve got our own network, with our own fiber optics, and we’re ready to serve Baton Rouge businesses.”
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