MetaSwitch and Occam Networks Jointly Deliver Robust IP Communications Solutions to More Than 100 Carriers

Service providers continue to rely on MetaSwitch and Occam Networks for next generation infrastructure and advanced communications services

 

Alameda, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, February 12, 2009. MetaSwitch, the leader in reliable, high-quality carrier IP communications solutions, and Occam Networks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCNW), a leading broadband access supplier offering multiservice access platform (MSAP) solutions based on pure packet technologies, today announced that they now have more than 100 joint service provider deployments in North America.

The combined Occam Networks and MetaSwitch solution enables carriers to easily take advantage of the migration to IP and deliver a host of innovative voice, data and video services to customers. As a pure IP-over-Ethernet multi-service access platform, Occam is natively compatible with MetaSwitch’s core session control, call feature server and media gateway products, working with different signaling protocols to ensure that the interaction is seamless. Together, service providers are able to deliver advanced IP voice and data services to any customer or any type of network more efficiently.

These customers, ranging from small to large incumbent and competitive carriers to telephone cooperatives across the U.S and Canada, include Hiawatha Communications, Emery Telcom and Alaska Power & Telephone Company.

Hiawatha Communications is a holding company that wholly owns four independent local exchange carriers (ILECs), all offering traditional telephony and Internet services to approximately 12,000 residents and businesses in nine communities throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Hiawatha Communications wanted to consolidate its existing network infrastructure and replace outdated legacy gear. "Working with MetaSwitch and Occam Networks, we can evolve our network to deliver new services like triple-play bundles of voice, video and data," said William C. Tidd, vice president and chief technical officer, Hiawatha Communications. "Additionally, replacing our costly legacy gear will help us strengthen resources and make our networks more cost-effective."

Emery Telcom, based in Orangeville, Utah, has been providing telephony services for nearly 60 years. Formed as a cooperative, Emery Telcom serves over 15,000 telephone residential and business subscribers in and around central and eastern Utah. The cooperative also provides sophisticated services, like high-speed digital internet, to small communities surrounding the Manti LaSal National Park. The MetaSwitch - Occam solution enables Emery to deliver a triple-play bundle of voice, video and data over the same converged network, helping to reduce network costs. "Today we're able to offer sophisticated new services with improved operational efficiency," explained Brock Johansen, chief executive officer, Emery Telcom. "We've been able to increase revenue, as well as offer even our smallest communities the advanced services normally only available to large cities."

Alaska Telephone Company (ATC) is the largest local exchange carrier in the Alaska Power & Telephone Company family of companies. Formed nearly over 50 years ago, ATC has diligently sought out under-served or un-served areas in Alaska, building new exchanges from the ground up. ATC currently provides telephone services to communities in regions ranging from the Arctic Circle to the Wrangell Mountains, going as far out as the islands of Southeast Alaska. "Our territories consist of a lot of difficult geographic terrain, so we're often sending crews out in floatplanes, snow machines and all-terrain vehicles to help with network interruptions and service requests," explained Tom Ervin, ATC. "Using the next gen equipment and services from Occam and MetaSwitch, we can easily and reliably offer more advanced services to our remote locations."

The success of the MetaSwitch-Occam Networks combination is a result of a strong, established relationship between the two industry-leading vendors that share a common focus on continued technological innovation, ongoing product interoperability, and coordinated customer training and support. "We have worked extensively with MetaSwitch development and support staff to ensure to that our joint deployments are seamless," explained Nathan Harrell, vice president of sales, Occam Networks. "MetaSwitch's switching and applications solutions are a natural complement to Occam's BLC 6000, enabling us to create simple, flexible networks that effectively meet carriers' current needs, as well as provide the advanced, scalable platforms and services needed in the future."

"Carriers are looking for vendors that share their values, which include delivering quality products that work," said Mike Ward, senior vice president of sales at MetaSwitch. "The experience gathered from our multitude of shared deployments puts MetaSwitch and Occam in a unique position to continue to offer best-of-breed solutions that enable carriers to offer new revenue-generating services even while decreasing OpEx costs."

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is an industry-leading vendor of switching and applications solutions for both packet and circuit-switched networks. Its MetaSphere applications suite enables a broad set of hosted IP communications services, while its core session control and media/signaling gateway products support a full range of Class 4/5 switching capabilities. Customers include many of the world’s leading operators of wireline, wireless and cable networks, with deployments that scale to millions of subscribers. For more information, please visit www.metaswitch.com.

About Occam Networks, Inc.

Occam Networks' broadband access solutions empower service providers to offer profitable new voice, data and video services over copper and fiber. Occam systems deliver flexibility and scalability in a Triple Play world. Over 2 million BLC 6000 ports are currently deployed at over 315 service providers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.occamnetworks.com.