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Alameda, CA: June 2, 2005. MetaSwitch, the industry-leading
vendor of carrier-class softswitch solutions, today became the first vendor
to offer a truly open "packet host-remote" architecture for telephone companies
seeking to migrate from legacy switching platforms. It has also released
a white paper, "From Host-Remote to Next-Generation," that explains the
technology background to this announcement. The MetaSwitch solution is deployable
today and has already been adopted by many independent operating companies
(IOCs) including Southern Kansas Telephone.
Southern Kansas Telephone (SKT) is one of the leading
IOCs in the mid-west, serving more than 6,000 telephone customers from its
Clearwater, Kansas headquarters - all on a legacy host-remote network prior
to the MetaSwitch deployment. MetaSwitch's proven packet-based architecture
for host-remote migration, based on over three years of VoIP deployment
experience, was a deciding factor in the selection of its Class 5 Softswitch.
"We decided that if we were going to deploy a softswitch,
then we wanted a true next generation solution - not just another legacy
switch with an 'IP blade'," said Bernie Armstrong, Director of Plant Operations
at SKT. "At the same time, any solution had to be able to take us from a
traditional host-remote architecture to a packet-based network in manageable
stages. After thorough evaluation of all the vendors' proposed solutions,
MetaSwitch was clearly the one that met our needs."
Addressing the requirement for an open packet host-remote
solution, John McHugh, Technical Director at the Organization for the Promotion
and Advancement of Small Telephone Companies (OPASTCO), said: "In the past,
small companies were locked into proprietary solutions to link remote locations
to their host switch. Some elected to convert to a standards based digital
loop carrier solution to resolve this while others are now looking at the
new next generation softswitch solutions. Recent advancements by leading
softswitch vendors will allow for a standards based interoperability and
an IP based interconnection in hybrid legacy/softswitch host-remote networks."
There are several unique elements to MetaSwitch's implementation
that result in the most reliable and future-proof solution available.
- Multi-level ESA. Traditional host-remote architectures
typically implement emergency standalone (ESA) switching at one level
only - the monolithic "remote switch". In contrast, MetaSwitch is working
with major access vendors including Occam Networks, Paradyne and Zhone
Technologies to implement multiple levels of ESA, whereby remote switch
nodes, CO-based line shelves / broadband loop carriers, or even remote
cabinets can lose their upstream connection and retain switching functionality,
including 911 calling. This is achieved through synchronization of subscriber
data between the MetaSwitch Call Agent and broadband loop carriers' own
ESA functions, and/or MetaSwitch's planned ESA Call Agent that will enable
standalone operation for media gateways and legacy digital loop carriers.
- Openness. While other vendors claim a migration path for host-remote networks, the proposed "next generation" solutions are no better than the legacy systems they seek to replace - because they do not address the key issue of closed, proprietary interfaces. MetaSwitch's architecture is built using open industry standards - including SIP, H.248 and SIGTRAN - and proven interoperable with a wide range of equipment including broadband loop carriers and next generation remotes (trunk gateways).
- Connectionless Trunking. Instead of provisioning point-to-point TDM links between a single host and multiple remote sites, service providers can simply connect all the remotes to an IP network and let the centralized Call Agent server figure out the most efficient path to route traffic between sites. Of course, point-to-point TDM trunks can still be used instead of or alongside IP, enabling seamless migration and support for individual remote sites that are not yet connected to the core IP network.
- Distributed PSTN Trunking. PSTN connections - whether SS7 signaling links, TDM trunks (ISUP, MF or PRI) or IP trunks using SIP - can be located in any of the switching sites in the network. In combination with Emergency Standalone (ESA), this enables remote sites to fall back to local TDM or IP trunks in the event of loss of host connectivity.
- Complete Site Redundancy. In a traditional Class 5 network, the monolithic host switch is a single point of failure for the whole network, while remotes are a single point of failure for all subtended subscribers. Through its use of a fully distributed architecture, with backup Call Agent servers and Media Gateways located across two or more sites, MetaSwitch enables true site redundancy, so that any one switching office can be completely lost (for example, as a result of a hurricane) with no loss of service. In this architecture, the only single point of failure for a subscriber is the line termination unit.
- Scalability. The MetaSwitch solution scales to more than 28,000 concurrent calls per chassis, with multi-node networks (multi-chassis or multi-site) of up to 500,000 subscribers. Equally importantly, the solution scales down with cost-effective 16xT1 remotes.
- Proven Packet Architecture. The MetaSwitch Class 5 Softswitch has been shipping with native VoIP and Ethernet interfaces since mid-2002, giving the vendor at least three years' headstart in deploying, proving and interoperability testing its packet-based architecture. With over 100 systems deployed delivering Class 5 services over packet, MetaSwitch is the clear industry leader in this field, with the know-how and partnerships to deploy end-to-end hybrid TDM/IP networks that work.
- Simplified Management. Since a network can be configured as a single "virtual switch", management of subscribers, signaling links and trunks is much simplified. Operators need no longer know which remote a particular subscriber is provisioned on in order to manage its service profiles. In addition, with MetaSwitch's Web Self-Care, a single web server can seamlessly provide access to all switches in the network
MetaSwitch's FREE white paper on host-remote migration is available for download at www.metaswitch.com/rescenter/whitepapers.htm.
About MetaSwitch
MetaSwitch is the industry's leading vendor of Class 4/5 softswitch and enhanced applications solutions for TDM and packet networks. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform supports over 100 Class 5 features including CLASS services, IP Centrex, Unified Messaging, E911, LNP, 1-800 and CALEA, and scales from a few hundred to half a million subscribers in both integrated and distributed configurations. Customers include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, as well as operators of broadband wireless, cable and fiber networks.
MetaSwitch is a division of established telecom technology provider Data Connection (DCL). The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with US locations in California, Virginia, Texas and Florida, and European headquarters in London, UK.
Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection
Limited and Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.
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Copyright © 2000 - 2008 Data Connection.
MetaSwitch is a registered trademark of Data Connection.
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