[August 05, 2004] Telkom South Africa Implements First of 61 Clarent BHG 2500 Media Gateways ATLANTA --(Business Wire)-- Aug. 5, 2004 -- A customer since 1999, South Africa's incumbent carrier upgrades its International VoIP network with Verso's Clarent BHG 2500 media gateways to lower operational support costs Verso Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSO), an integrated communications solutions company, today announced that Telkom SA Limited, the incumbent carrier in South Africa, has completed implementation of the first node in a purchase of 61 Clarent BHG 2500 gateways, a key element of Verso's Clarent PSTN Access Softswitch Solution. Telkom SA expects that the increased reliability of this latest generation of the solution will lower their VoIP network operational overhead costs. The solution was delivered by Verso's distribution partner Grintek Telcom, who was responsible for design and implementation, and who will handle support and maintenance of Telkom's Clarent-based network going forward. Implementation of the first node was completed just 45 days after purchase and supported Telkom's requirement of deploying new infrastructure in a short space of time. The deployment included the upgrade of 744 E1 lines and implementation of a wide-area digital transmission scheme that enhances data transmission speed. An additional 96 E1 lines are scheduled to be installed, further enhancing Telkom SA's speed and service, with systems management provided by Verso's Clarent Command Center component. The solution will ensure that Telkom is able to substantially increase its VoIP traffic and cope with future growth. "Carriers are looking for cost-effective alternatives to traditional telecommunications systems, especially for international traffic, and Verso's Clarent solutions provide an inexpensive, high-speed alternative that ensures easy interoperability and lower deployment and operational costs," said Srini Moodley of Grintek Telecom. "Grintek enjoys a long-standing relationship with Verso and a history of success deploying its Clarent solutions. We look forward to the continued success of this partnership in the southern African market." In addition to offering hot swappable VoIP blades and redundant and hot swappable power supplies, the Clarent BHG 2500 gives Telkom SA the option to implement the distributed architecture of the PSTN Access Softswitch Solution, which eliminates any single points of failure. The solution also adds an unprecedented degree of network reliability while dramatically reducing operational overhead. Reliability and cost-effectiveness are critical to the success of Telkom, particularly if they decide to expand their presence in either the off-continent VoIP services market or the growing call center outsourcing market. "We are delighted that a company with the size, scope, and backing of Telkom SA Limited has made such a large investment in our Clarent technology," said Steve Odom, Verso's chairman and chief executive officer. "This sale is further evidence of our growing momentum in the EMEA, perhaps the most dynamic region in the global VoIP market, which Synergy Research projects will reach $2.7 billion by 2007." About Verso Technologies Verso is a leading provider of next generation communication solutions for carriers and enterprises that want to lower their communication infrastructure costs and enhance service capabilities without sacrificing reliability, scalability and quality of service. With an extensive solutions portfolio that extends from the core to the edge of a network, Verso enables customers to leverage legacy technology investments towards converged networks that are faster and more cost-effective to deploy and easier and more flexible to manage. Verso solutions are currently deployed in thousands of customer networks in over 130 countries around the world. For more information, contact Verso at www.verso.com or call 678.589.3500. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]