The Netility 3400 auto-configuring G.SHDSL device promises to automatically support G.SHDSL, SDSL, or IDSL, and is compatible with top DSLAMs.

by Wayne Kawamoto [December 2, 2001]

Netility Corporation, a developer of DSL customer premises equipment (CPE), announced its Netility 3400. According to the company, the Netility 3400 will be the first G.SHDSL device to offer automatic configuration technology, which lets it support G.SHDSL, SDSL and IDSL versions of business class DSL and is compatible with DSLAMs from Lucent, Nokia, Alcatel, Copper Mountain, Cisco, and Paradyne.

The company says that its Netility 3400 Business Gateway combines DSL connectivity, routing, backup network connectivity, firewall security and remote management into a single integrated device. The overall objective, according to Netility, is to help ISPs reduce the number of CPE SKUs (stock keeping units) that they must forecast and carry in inventory to single SKU.

Netility says that its competitors' products require multiple SKUs to support different versions of DSL and DSLAMs, which complicates the inventory forecasting process and increases the required inventory investment. Also, the optional Stateful Packet Inspection firewall module should provide strong, scalable, enterprise-class security that would otherwise require a separate security appliance.

Besides easing inventory burden, Netility's automatic configuration technology may speed deployment by eliminating the expenses and delays associated with installation by a trained technician. According to Netility, previous business class DSL deployment required access providers to send a trained network technician to a customer's site—a truck roll—to install and configure the CPE. And technician truck rolls could typically cost ISPs $300 or more and take up to two weeks to schedule and complete.

On the other hand, the patent-pending Netility Configuration System (NCS) and Netility 3400 technologies may enable automatic configuration, which allows the 3400 to be shipped to, and installed by the user. NCS says it may also deliver upgrades, options and new features, which should increase service provider revenue and reduce technical support burden.

"Two significant challenges that service providers need to address in their daily operations are maintaining proper CPE inventory levels and providing timely installation to new customers. Failure to meet these challenges can have a devastating impact on the company's viability," said Dale Richmond, Netility's vice president of Marketing. "By deploying the Netility 3400, service providers can reduce their stocked SKUs to a single item, greatly simplifying forecasting and easing inventory costs. And as our product automatically configures, there is no need to send a technician for installation."

Availability and pricing
The Netility 3400 will be available the first quarter of 2002. Pricing was unavailable at press time.

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