NightFire Supports Automated DSL Loop Qualification and Line Sharing 

August 22, 2000 -- NightFire Software announced support for line sharing and DSL loop qualification through its NightFire SupplierExpress software. The company says that the two new SupplierExpress functions equip CLECs to deliver broadband access more efficiently by automating the ordering of shared lines and the retrieval of detailed information on the local loops required to deliver DSL service.

The company says that for CLECs, the ability to order shared lines substantially lowers their cost-basis for providing DSL services by allowing them to share a single existing phone line with the incumbent carrier to deliver DSL service. Also, getting access to loop qualification information should eliminate unnecessary truck rolls which industry estimates suggest may add up to $350 to the cost of turning on each subscriber. Taken together, NightFire claims that these additional functions in SupplierExpress enable faster turn-on time, lower costs for service deployment and improved customer satisfaction.

According to the company, NightFire is the first vendor to deliver these gateways and is making the gateways available for each ILEC as they update their systems with these functions. Currently, NightFire says that it has line-sharing gateways for Pacific Bell, Qwest Communications (formerly US West), Southwestern Bell and Verizon (Bell Atlantic South only), and loop qualification gateways for the eight major ILECs -- Ameritech, Bell South, Pacific Bell, Qwest Communications, Southwestern Bell and Verizon (Bell Atlantic North and Bell Atlantic South are scheduled to be available by the end of September).

"CLECs now have a fighting chance to acquire market share at a reasonable cost and capitalize on the huge demand for broadband services," says Sanjay Mewada, director, Telecom e-Business, the Yankee Group. "With the release of its automated line sharing and loop qualification solutions, NightFire offers the fastest path to these critical capabilities."