CTC Communications Deploys Distributed MetaSwitch Platform for Next Generation Services Architecture

New England's Largest Competitive Service Provider Adopts Industry-Leading Class 4/5 Softswitch for Increased Network Resilience

 

Las Vegas, NV: October 25, 2005. Today at Telecom '05, MetaSwitch, an industry-leading vendor of Class 4/5 switching and enhanced applications solutions, announced that CTC Communications has adopted its industry-leading softswitch platform. CTC, one of the largest converged communications services providers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, will leverage MetaSwitch technology to deliver a broad range of hosted business services over CTC's packet-based PowerPath® Network. Following CTC's recent acquisitions of Lightship Telecom and Connecticut Broadband, the MetaSwitch switching and applications platform will deliver service to business and enterprise customers. CTC is the largest competitive service provider based in New England.

"Compatibility with our existing network standards was a key requirement, as was a resilient future-proof applications platform based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture to augment our existing first-generation softswitch technology," explains Jeff Koester, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Network Operations, CTC Communications. "In our extensive analysis of the available solutions, MetaSwitch scored extremely high on both counts. Throughout the entire selection and deployment process, their team has worked diligently alongside our own engineering staff to ensure a successful implementation."

With network design assistance from MetaSwitch's professional services team, CTC has deployed a redundant pair of MetaSwitch Call Agents in Worcester and Springfield to serve Boston and New York, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery even in the event of the total loss of one switching center.

"CTC has a track record of leading the industry, as one of the first alternative carriers to adopt softswitch technology and operate a truly converged packet-based network serving hundreds of thousands of subscribers," said Craig Clausen, Senior Vice President and COO of New Paradigm Resources Group, Inc., a Chicago-based analyst firm focused on the competitive telecommunications industry. "MetaSwitch's adoption by a carrier of CTC's profile indicates that they are well positioned to enable the transition of a substantial proportion of the 37 million lines currently served by competitive providers."

"MetaSwitch's focus has always been on enabling carriers to cost-effectively deliver compelling services, while enabling a smooth transition from legacy network environments," said Andy Randall, MetaSwitch Vice President of Marketing. "Our selection by CTC, one of the largest facilities-based CLECs with real-world experience deploying softswitch technologies in their network for many years, validates this approach."

About CTC Communications

CTC Communications is one of the largest providers of converged communications services to businesses in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. CTC offers a full range of voice, Internet and data service solutions, dynamically allocated on a next-generation, all-IP packet-based network. CTC's Cisco-powered IP+ATM packet network runs over a fully managed and CTC-owned fiber optic network from Maine to Maryland. CTC has provided cost-effective communication solutions since 1981 and is today part of Columbia Ventures Corporation's worldwide family of businesses.

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is an industry-leading vendor of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) switching and applications solutions for both packet and circuit-switched networks. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform supports a full range of legacy Class 4/5 capabilities and hosted unified communications services, and scales from a few hundred to millions of 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. The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with main US offices in California and Virginia, and European headquarters in London, UK.