[January
24, 2000]
Integral Access Intros Multi-Service Access Platform
Integrating IP And Legacy Voice/Data Over Single DSL Or Leased Line
Integral Access, Inc. -- a leading provider
of packet-based multi-service access platforms for competitive carriers -- introduced the
PurePacket platform. PurePacket is the first packet-based access system that allows
service providers to cost-effectively deliver a complete range of IP services, with
Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees, over a single access line. PurePacket supports Voice
over IP (VoIP), Voice over DSL (VoDSL), and broadband data, as well as traditional voice
services. This MPLS-enabled, IP-based platform provides a single access network for
delivering multiple services and eliminates the need for competitive carriers to build
separate voice and data networks between the customer premise and Central Office (CO).
PurePacket leverages the flexible bandwidth provisioning and operational efficiencies of
packet-based networking to allow network operators to deliver more services, more quickly
and at less cost than traditional TDM and ATM based solutions.
The PurePacket platform includes carrier network equipment for Central Office/Points of
Presence; a wide range of customer-premise devices adapted to the needs of the
small-medium business (SMB) and small office/home office (SOHO) markets; and a powerful
operations management system for remote network and service provisioning, configuration,
monitoring and management. PurePacket supports a broad service portfolio including Voice
over IP (VoIP), Voice over DSL, Internet Access, LAN Interconnect, legacy Frame Relay
applications, as well as traditional circuit-switched (POTS) and digital (PABX) voice.
"PurePacket's integrated support for voice and data services, combined with its
packet-based transport architecture substantially boosts bandwidth and efficiency in the
access network expanding our capabilities to provide competitively priced traditional,
enhanced and new services to our customers," said John Beck, president of Actel
Integrated Communications. "We chose PurePacket because it supports our existing TDM
voice switching platform, integrates natively with our data networks and will support our
future IP-based telephony infrastructure. PurePacket allows our current access network to
meet today's requirements and will enable us to smoothly migrate to a new network
architecture without replacing any equipment."
PurePacket uses an MPLS-based architecture to route, transport and switch voice and
data transmissions in packet format; guarantee Quality of Service (QoS); enable Class of
Service (CoS); and maximize the traffic carrying capacity of access networks. PurePacket
provides a migration path to the pure IP networks of the future and supports Softswitch
Call Control for transporting voice calls across IP core networks. To allow carriers to
leverage their investments in existing TDM-based infrastructures, PurePacket also supports
the GR-303 standard for seamless interoperability with Class 5 voice switches.
PurePacket uses an MPLS-based architecture to maintain guaranteed levels of QoS for
voice and data transmissions, and provide network operators with tools to manage traffic,
deploy and monitor Service Level Agreements (SLA) and provision secure data Virtual
Private Networks (VPNs) across IP backbones. This approach also allows network operators
to keep pace with the standardization of customer premise and core network equipment on
the IP protocol. PurePacket will ultimately allow service providers to provision
end-to-end MPLS-based QoS that extends from the customer premise and across the network
core to a remote site.
"Competitive carriers have recognized the operational benefits and business
advantages of using a packet-based approach for integrating voice and data, and the need
for access networks to keep pace with the evolution of both enterprise and core networks
to IP technology," said Jeffrey J. Wake, president and CEO, Integral Access. "By
providing an infrastructure that is optimized for data and delivers toll quality voice,
PurePacket allows carriers to aggressively attack markets and achieve the maximum revenues
for the minimum cost."
The PurePacket platform allows network operators to choose from a wide range of
OUTburst customer premise devices to meet specific SMB and SOHO customer requirements.
These modular and compact systems are available in several application-specific
configurations, and incorporate full channel bank functionality with extensive data and IP
traffic transmission capabilities. OUTburst network terminating units (NTU) support analog
POTS lines, digital PBX connections, Fast Ethernet and V.35 router connections over DSL
and leased lines. They can be configured and monitored remotely from any Web-enabled
workstation via the PurePacket operations management system (OMS).
The PurePacket OMS leverages the intelligence embedded in the PurePacket platform to
provide carriers a `single-system image' of their access network. OMS supports standard
Web browsers as its user interface, and allows network administrators to remotely
configure equipment, provision services, create and monitor SLAs, view network
performance, and provides e-mail and pager alerts in the event of network outages or
critical events. By providing automated service configuration and zero-touch, end-to-end
flow-through provisioning, PurePacket OMS allows network operators to rapidly deploy and
activate new revenue-generating services without a truck roll. This combination of network
intelligence and automation enables service providers to deliver new levels of service
fulfillment, assurance and billing.
The PurePacket Platform is available immediately. The entry-level configuration of
PurePacket Node for Central Office, Co-Locations, and Points of Presence is less than
$15,000. OUTburst-SB customer-premise equipment is less than $2000. Entry-level SOHO
customer-premise devices are available for less than $1000.
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