MetaSwitch Targets Rural and Independent Telcos With VP3000 Enhancements

MetaSwitch Targets Rural and Independent Telcos With VP3000 Enhancements 

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2002--Support for Digital Loop Carriers (DLCs) Enables Legacy POTS Access, Addresses Requirement for Reliable Replacement of End-of-Life Class 5 Switches

MetaSwitch, a leading supplier of carrier-class, next generation switching solutions, announced today at the Minnesota Telephone Association Annual Convention that it has enhanced its VP3000 Next Generation Class 5 Switch to add support for digital loop carrier (DLC) devices, delivering legacy POTS access alongside the VP3000's proven broadband voice capabilities. The result is the industry's first next generation Class 5 switch to fully support both legacy and broadband access protocols, together with over 45 subscriber features and Telcordia conformant SS7 interworking functionality -- all in one compact 14U fault-tolerant, NEBS-compliant chassis.

 The move will be especially welcomed by small to medium-sized carriers who are struggling to find working solutions that can reliably replace aging legacy Class 5 switches. With pricing starting at under $100,000, the MetaSwitch VP3000 is designed to scale cost-effectively from 400 to 16,000 subscriber lines. Existing MetaSwitch customers can upgrade their deployed VP3000s without disrupting service to their subscribers. The upgrade comprises a new software release that adds support for the GR-303 Integrated Digital Terminal (IDT) protocol and hot-swappable AM1200 T1 interface cards with N+1 redundancy.

 "Many service providers, particularly independent telcos, have deployed legacy Class 5 switches, such as the Mitel GX5000 and Nortel DMS-10, that are now nearing end of life or require expensive upgrades for features such as CALEA," commented John Lazar, MetaSwitch vice president of sales and marketing. "These service providers are now actively looking for replacement strategies that will serve them now and well into the foreseeable future -- and that means supporting both traditional POTS services and next-generation features such as broadband voice. Whatever the existing network infrastructure, we can help the telco get to the subscribers."

 This enhancement allows the VP3000 to support a full range of legacy POTS subscribers, on both traditional and next generation DLCs, using loop start, ground start or E&M signaling, and accessed via TDM or fiber.

MetaSwitch ensures interoperability with a wide range of DLC and other devices through the company's rigorous system testing and Interoperability Partner Program. The first release of GR-303 functionality will be qualified with products from Lucent, Alcatel, Nortel and Advanced Fibre Communications (AFC).

 In addition to the Minnesota Telephone Association Annual Convention taking place this week, the MetaSwitch VP3000 will be shown at


   --  Montana Telecommunications Association Spring Workshop, April
        3-4, Havre, MT
   --  SouthWest Competitive Telecommunications Association, April
        8-10, Austin, TX
   --  SUPERCOMM, June 2-6, Atlanta, GA.



For a full event schedule, see
www.\b metaswitch\b0 .com/news.



About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch, a division of Data Connection (DCL), develops and manufactures
advanced telecom switching solutions combining broadband (VoATM and VoIP) and
legacy voice access with Class 5 functions and subscriber services in a
compact, fault tolerant system. The company's premier product, the MetaSwitch
VP3000, offers service providers an immediate solution for broadband and Plain
Old Telephone Service (POTS), and a future-proof "softswitch" architecture for
enhanced applications. Twenty-year-old parent company, DCL, is a leading
provider of core communications technology, including networking protocols
such as MPLS, SIP, MGCP, Megaco/H.248, SCTP, SS7, ATM, and IP routing, as well
as conferencing, unified messaging and directory services.


MetaSwitch and Data Connection have offices in Enfield (North London),
Chester and Edinburgh in the UK, and Alameda, CA and Reston, VA in the US.
Visit the MetaSwitch website at
www.\b metaswitch\b0 .com.



Note to Editors: 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.