Telica Launches Multiservice Switching System 

August 29, 2000 -- Telica announced its integrated hardware, software and network management system, the Plexus 9000, which is designed to deliver carrier-class and intelligent multiservice switching to incumbent and new carriers.

According to the company, the Plexus 9000 optimizes network traffic flow and circuit/session provisioning to boost Central Office (CO) switch density and capacity by 200%, when compared to other edge platforms. Also, the company says that the platform improves POTS/broadband voice and data traffic performance for millions of subscribers, and provides a highly cost-effective set of Class 5 features that give carriers voice service delivery in new and expanding markets at one-third the cost of conventional CO switches.

The Plexus 9000 has been designed to offer the following performance enhancements, features and availability:
- Density: over 180,000+ protected DS-0's per rack/60,000+ protected in a single shelf, for maximum scalability.
- Throughput: 15 Gbps switch fabric capacity, with latency of 1.2 ms.
- Integrated SS7 signaling, call control and switching for voice/data services.
- High availability: NEBS certification, 1:1 and 1:N redundant modules, hot-swappable components and fault-tolerant online software and firmware upgrades.
- Transport and protocol transparency: support for most access and transport types, IMT, SS7, ISDN PRI, ATM and IP.
- Data and voice switching: class 4/5 baseline switch features to enable service switching of Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) voice/data calls
- Network management: TL-1 and Web-based tools, to bridge conventional and next generation networks

"The Plexus 9000 was built to terminate and aggregate both PSTN and broadband traffic through a unified broadband packet network," said John St. Amand, Telica president, CEO and founder. "Amid the market hype over `instant' broadband for all users, Telica understands that carriers want controlled convergence of the PSTN and broadband capabilities. Carriers know the complete migration to broadband will require years, and they need efficient platforms that can bring their dial-up data and voice base progressively closer to a broadband experience level, without forcing replacement of traditional telephony platforms. They need to protect their $250 billion in installed equipment, and associated intellectual investment worth triple that, even as they scale the network for vastly increased data and voice traffic and improved performance. The Plexus 9000 fulfills this role."

"In addition," continued St. Amand, "The Plexus 9000 sets a new standard for edge switch system availability by including fully redundant CPU cards and switch fabric, 1:N redundant I/O modules and online upgrades for software and hardware. This level of availability, coupled with the integration of the full suite of call control, signaling and switching features, completely changes the cost structure for carriers. Carriers no longer need to purchase separate systems for handling SS7 signaling and call features, they can rely on one highly flexible, highly cost-effective solution."

The company says that the Plexus 9000 provides baseline voice and data switching features that enable service delivery without requiring additional investment in full Class 5 switch platforms. ILECs may be able to offer additional data services more cost effectively than ever before, while ISPs, CLECs and next generation carriers may have a vehicle for offering switched voice and data services in new markets that may have previously been unserved due to the high cost of switch provisioning.

"It is clear from our conversations with the network architects at the ILECs and CLECs that these service providers will not be tossing out their Class 5 switches any time soon," remarked Jennifer Pigg, executive vice president at the Yankee Group. "What is equally clear, however, is that these service providers are under pressure to cap their expenditures in big iron circuit switches and to move their companies to compete in a packet-based network economy. They are looking for highly scalable, flexible, cost-effective solutions to help them make this transition and this is precisely what the Plexus 9000 promises."

According to the company, the Plexus 9000 may be implemented at one of several points in the service provider's edge network. For both ILECs and CLECs, the company says that it may be located beside or behind the Class 5 switch within an end office, to perform voice and data service optimization. Or it may also be placed in an ILEC co-location cage to serve as the CLEC's Class 5 substitute to perform full termination and switching of data calls. The company claims that such a function may be thought of as an ISP service switch, which can save the CLEC hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in expansion markets. The platform should also allow CLECs to provide voice and data services for diverse access types on the same platform, without requiring an investment in previous generation Class 4/5 switches.

Pricing and Availability
The Plexus 9000 will be generally available in September 2000 and is currently deployed in network trials with three carriers in North America. List port pricing for the system is $50 per DS-0, including integrated switching, gateway and termination functions.