Cable broadband systems operator Suddenlink Communications announced on Wednesday that it be using a VoIP system from Nortel (News - Alert) to provide a suite of telephone and multimedia services to its customers. The system is comprised of network design, as well as integration, management and maintenance services from the Nortel Global Services portfolio.

 

The move will enable Suddenlink (formerly Cebridge Connections) to expand its telephony services with the acquisition of cable systems from Cox Communications and Charter Communications.

 

According to Suddenlink, this new network will provide VoIP-based telephony services to the company's national customer base from California to North Carolina, and will include conversion of approximately 30,000 telephony subscribers acquired from Cox.

 

“With Suddenlink's pending integration of several networks, it is critical that our new VoIP network integrate seamlessly with equipment from multiple vendors,” said Suddenlink senior vice president, Engineering Terry Cordova in a statement. “Nortel’s services and expertise, the proven interoperability of its VoIP solution and its IMS roadmap give us confidence that they can uniquely help our company launch and maintain a new VoIP service.”

 

“Nortel has earned a reputation as a leader in simplifying the deployment of VoIP services for our cable customers,” said Tom Buttermore, vice president and general manager, Global Cable Solutions, Nortel. “Our track record for producing quality products and contributing high-caliber expertise has made Nortel a primary choice for companies like Suddenlink looking to introduce advanced telephony to both residential and business markets.”

 

The companies expect to begin deployment later this year, with anticipated completion by the end of 2007.

 

Suddenlink will be using PacketCable-qualified Nortel Communication Server 2000-Compacts (CS 2000-Compact) as the exclusive softswitch on their Suddenlink backbone. The CS 2000-Compact uses industry standard SIP protocol for cost effective interconnect to the public phone network and Nortel will also provide Suddenlink with IP Unity's PacketCable based Mereon(x) 6000 Media Server and Mereon Unified Messaging application, delivering voice mail features for its business and residential subscriber services. IP Unity is a messaging market leader in the cable operator segment.

 

Nortel made news back in April when it announced it was tapped by UPC Broadband to deploy the Nortel cable VoIP system to provide a suite of new voice services to residential and business customers in Austria, France and The Netherlands. The move will allow UPC to offer a triple-play bundle of services comprised of voice, broadband Internet and video over a single network.

 

Specifically, UPC Broadband will be using a VoIP system comprised of Nortel's PacketCable and Euro-PacketCable-qualified Communication Server 2000-Compact softswitch and AudioCodes' (News - Alert) Mediant 5000 Cable Access Gateway. The network also includes SIP-based Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapters (E-MTAs) to deliver primary line VoIP along with high-speed Internet access.

 

Suddenlink

Nortel