MetaSwitch Installs Integrated VoDSL/SS7 Broadband Voice Platform

MetaSwitch Installs Integrated VoDSL/SS7 Broadband Voice Platform 

 

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2001--Successful integration in SaskTel NGN Trial network sets a new standard for Voice over DSL; delivers on MetaSwitch's Broadband Voice Platform promise

MetaSwitch announced today that it has successfully installed and demonstrated a MetaSwitch VP3000 system in SaskTel's NGN Trial network.

 In so doing, MetaSwitch delivered on its promise to integrate Voice over DSL (VoDSL) gateway, Class 5 switching and CLASS services in a single system, defining the Broadband Voice Platform (BVP) product category and setting a new standard for VoDSL gateways.

 When installed, the MetaSwitch VP3000 delivered downstream toll-quality voice services through an Alcatel ASAM 1000, while simultaneously connecting directly into an SS7 network. Calls and Caller ID information were routed between telephones on both the ADSL/ATM and SS7/TDM networks, through a Nortel DMS Broadband Signal Transfer Point (STP), with media trunks into a peer Nortel DMS Class 5 switch.

 Unlike first-generation GR303-based VoDSL gateways, the MetaSwitch VP3000 provides SS7 interworking and CLASS services, such as Caller ID, without requiring a separate, expensive Class 5 switch. This reduces short-term deployment costs while creating a long-term evolutionary platform for converged packet voice/data backbones and distributed call control and media processing.

 "MetaSwitch is to be congratulated on this industry leading achievement," said Al Yam, General Manager of Technology Development and Engineering, SaskTel. "We have been impressed by MetaSwitch's capabilities, and are very optimistic about the potential for this technology. We can now better understand the components involved in VoDSL implementations and realistically evaluate our ability to deploy the technology while limiting further investment in legacy circuit-based equipment. The MetaSwitch solution is 'real world' yet offers an upgrade path to Next-Generation Voice over IP and Softswitch architectures."

 "We are pleased to have the quality of our engineering team confirmed by this milestone, which clearly puts MetaSwitch ahead of the pack in terms of next-generation broadband voice capabilities," said John Lazar, MetaSwitch Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Concrete successes such as this, backed up by a leading service provider like SaskTel, help to distinguish between the hype and genuine, working products."

 The MetaSwitch VP3000 will be publicly demonstrated as part of the OpenVoB Interoperability ShowCase at the DSLcon exhibition in Denver CO, April 9-12.

 About the MetaSwitch VP3000

 The award-winning MetaSwitch VP3000 integrated Broadband Voice Platform combines broadband voice and Class 5 switching functions in a high density, carrier class system. The result is an extremely cost-effective VoDSL solution which does away with the requirement for an expensive Class 5 switch. Support for the ATM Forum's Broadband Loop Emulation Service (BLES) ensures interoperability with DSLAM and IAD devices from a wide range of vendors. In addition, the VP3000's future-proof softswitch architecture offers a clear upgrade path to Voice over IP and MPLS (VoIP/MPLS) and other broadband voice services, including wireless and cable.

 About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch was formed by Data Connection (DCL) to build best-of-breed solutions for Voice-over-DSL and other broadband voice requirements, based on the unrivaled software and hardware experience, expertise and technology that Data Connection has built up over nearly twenty profitable years supplying the most demanding Service Provider and equipment vendor customers.

MetaSwitch builds on the powerful foundation created by Data Connection, pulling together its massive ongoing investment in the technology required to build converged network solutions (ATM, SS7, MPLS, MGCP/H.248, SIP...), and new revenue-generating services (directory, unified messaging, data/audio/video conferencing). The MetaSwitch support and customer management infrastructure taps right into the deep reservoir of professionalism and experience Data Connection has developed by helping its large strategic customers deliver successful products and services.

MetaSwitch and Data Connection have offices in Alameda (California), Reston (Virginia), and Enfield (North London), Chester and Edinburgh in the UK. For information, email contact@metaswitch.com or visit www.\b metaswitch\b0 .com.

 About SaskTel

 SaskTel is the leading full service communications company in Saskatchewan, offering complete wireline, wireless, Internet and e-business solutions over a state-of-the-art, digital network. SaskTel maintains investments in companies that provide a variety of products and services around the world. The web site for SaskTel is www.sasktel.com.

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