[August 3, 2004]

Integral Access Delivers Residential Broadband

BY RICH TEHRANI

Residential VoIP (define - news - alert) is a super competitive space at the moment with new-entrants, RBOCs (define - news - alert) and cable companies fighting for the customer like never before. In the race to arm these service providers with the equipment needed to win the customer war, Integral Access has come up with some intriguing new products that service providers should consider before taking the plunge into VoIP.

Specifically, the company has enhanced its PurePacket multi-service access platform to allow carriers to expand residential broadband data and voice offerings while allowing customers to migrate from UNE-P (news - alert) to UNE-L, (news - alert) lowering carrier costs. UNE-P offers competitive providers access to the incumbent�s switching facilities and local loop while UNE-L is simply the associated copper loop. In the latter case, the competitive carrier needs to build their own network infrastructure to provide services. Since the current regulatory environment favors migration from UNE-P, now is a great time to explore a UNE-L strategy that provides services via a softswitch.

The company�s PurePacketNode product provides POTS/ADSL2+ combination service for triple play delivery. You can serve 8,000 lines in a 10x10 space. In order to reduce truck rolls, remote provisioning is built in. Moreover, their PurePacketOMS operations management system allows integrated loop testing and thus eliminating the need for separate equipment for this purpose.

Integral Access� product line consists of the following products:

• PurePacketNode is a central office-based access aggregation platform for business and residential broadband services delivery.

• PurePacketLAG-ES is a delivery platform for high-density traditional or enhanced voice services

• PurePacketCompact is an aggregation platform for small campuses and in-building applications

• PurePacketOUTburst is the associated CPE IAD.

Integral Access has a worldwide customer list with perhaps the most notable name in the list being Time Warner Telecom. Reducing truck rolls and moving away from UNE-P are two hot buttons in the VoIP services delivery world. Without a doubt, Integral Access is positioned well to benefit from the competitive residential and enterprise VoIP market.

Rich Tehrani is TMC's president. He welcomes your comments. Participate in our forums.