According to the IP communications solutions player, carriers are deploying MetaSwitch (News - Alert) solutions in an effort to migrate legacy voice infrastructures in a more cost-effective manner. The IP-enabled networks also provide next-generation subscriber services, a process that MetaSwitch is banking to accelerate as Broadband Stimulus funds drive the deployment of packet networks.

In recent years, MetaSwitch has strengthened its market position by building a roster of smaller carriers such as CLECs, RLECs, IOCs ­– markets often neglected by big carriers.

 

"Despite the economic difficulties facing everyone, we are still seeing a growing commitment to move forward with carrier VoIP infrastructure projects, based on our strong track record for quality engineering, exceptional support, innovation, and the reliability and stability of a profitable, growing company," said Graeme MacArthur, general manager of MetaSwitch’s carrier systems division.

 

Among these recent wins, MetaSwitch’s roster expanded with numerous ILECs including Telephone Electronics Corporation, or TEC, based in Jackson, Miss.; Rural Telephone located in northwest Kansas; and Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative, serving multiple counties in Tennessee.

 

TEC is now in the process of rolling out MetaSphere Unified Messaging, which it will provide as TEC Track and TEC Message, enabling residential customers to manage home phone, cell phone, e-mail and voice-mail through CommPortal, a Web-based portal. TEC plans to rollout similar integrated messaging functionality to business customers in the coming months.

 

"The ability to create new revenue streams with TEC Track and TEC Message and provide a highly cost-effective solution for modernizing legacy services such as voicemail are critical to maintaining our competitive advantage," said Lisa Wigington, director of LEC and video operations for TEC. "We have been particularly pleased with how MetaSwitch has supported our marketing efforts as well as the technical aspects of our deployment."

 

Another company to sign on with MetaSwith last quarter, Rural Telephone – an IOC in Kansas with 20,000 access lines – was looking to consolidate its switching capacity, create geographic redundancy and create an IP-access network, according to said Shane Broyles, central office manager for Rural Telephone.

 

"As a company eager to adopt new technologies, the superior industry experience and technology that MetaSwitch offers made it the compelling choice to support our ambitious strategy," Broyles said.

 

Broyles said the company selected MetaSwitch for its core network as well as its ability to deliver a wide range of VoIP, legacy TDM and next-generation telephony services.

 

"MetaSwitch proposed a clean and simple network design that provided more cost-effective geographic redundancy than was possible with traditional switches or other vendors' next-generation solutions," he said.

 

In an effort to support growth and expansion plans, Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative opted to migrate from its Nortel (News - Alert) legacy network and is replacing its Nortel DMS100 with a more cost-effective MetaSwitch-based solution to cover more than 42,000 access lines.

 

Ray Cantrell, Network Operations manger at Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative, said  as one of the largest IOCs in the state, the company’s strategic priorities are to increase the value of existing product offerings plus expand its portfolio.

 

"We like the fact that MetaSwitch offers a solution set that addresses the largest carriers' needs but also scales down for small independent telcos,” said Cantrell. “This enables us to evolve our network on a future-proof platform, and remain competitive."