Mountain Rural Telephone Cooperative: A Case Study

Building a Secure IP Network for Delivery of Triple Play Services.

A Case Study of the SIMPLE Solution by Metaswitch and Cisco Systems, Inc.

Summary

Communications companies face many challenges that next generation technology can help to address. This case study outlines a joint solution from leading vendors Cisco and Metaswitch for the secure migration of communications services to an IP based platform for Mountain Rural Telephone Cooperative, a Kentucky based telecommunications provider. Mountain Telephone understands that better equipment/solutions almost always means doing the job more efficiently, and that it will be able to stay competitive and offer the same services as larger outside phone companies. Mountain is continually looking for ways to advance its services and increase its product portfolio. Its business objectives led Mountain to deploy a new softswitch to deliver a wide range of VoIP, legacy TDM and next generation telephony services, and to upgrade its core network. This new IP network will be utilized to provide High Speed Data, Broadcast IP Multicast Video, Video on Demand, Metro Ethernet and other future services.

Community Roots

Mountain Telephone, headquartered in West Liberty, Kentucky, is a member owned telecommunications cooperative. Formed in 1950, the roots of Mountain Telephone are firmly planted in the communities it serves throughout the four counties of Morgan, Elliot, Menifee, and Wolfe in eastern Kentucky. At 842 square miles, Mountain Telephone's local calling area is the largest of any telephone company in the state. However, that doesn't stop it being an active member of its local communities, from supporting schools, local fire departments and area Little Leagues to scholarships that send 17 local students to Morehead State University every year.

Mountain Telephone has always been committed to investing in its network to promote the economic and educational development of its serving area. Mountain Telephone's commitment to its communities' telecommunications needs is evident through its service to each county school district with Centrex and its deployment of fiber that enables high-capacity WAN services between them. It is also justifiably proud of the fact that while it serves a rural area, Mountain Telephone can provide other advanced services such as DSL to nearly all of its customers.

Mountain Telephone recognizes that in order to continue its commitment to the community, it has the responsibility of watching technology trends to improve its network to provide more, affordably priced, high-quality services. It also recognizes the potential competitive threat from alternative service providers, including voice over broadband suppliers and from the local cable operator. This recognition led it to consider replacement of its legacy network infrastructure. As General Manager, Allen Gillum, puts it: "As we move into the world of true digital traffic and think about delivering VoIP and IPTV, replacement is much more economically wise than trying to continue to modernize and upgrade older equipment."

For any service provider, migrating its legacy network to a next generation network can be a significant challenge. With the support of Cisco Systems and Metaswitch, both established leaders in networking, Mountain Telephone is well poised to stay competitive, offer new services, and continue its long, successful history of community service.