New 8- and 12-port DSLAMs

Modules promise to offer broad and cost-effective coverage for multiple tenant unit (MTU), multiple dwelling unit (MDU) and hospitality markets.

by Wayne Kawamoto [July 27, 2000]

AccessLan Communications announced the expansion of its PL-1000 line of stackable i-SLAMs with the introduction of new 8- and 12-port-SDSL access modules.

These lower density access modules, which complement the company's 24-port SDSL access module introduced in January 2000, should enable providers to address the more than 600,000 buildings that house 12 tenants or less. According to AccessLan, this market represents an $11B+ total market opportunity in the US. The company also introduced a 'soft-port' feature, which AccessLan says can upgrade the 12-port access module to 24 SDSL access ports with a software key.

The new access modules add to the company's growing PL-1000 Stackable i-SLAM product-line, which now consists of 8-, 12- and 24-port DSL access modules; 12- and 24-port T1 access modules, and a variety of stackable trunk modules. The company claims that the PL-1000 product-line lets providers combine DSL and T1 access modules to service up to 960 tenants with a T1, 4xT1, Ethernet, T3/E3 and/or OC-3 network connection, which can be shared across all the stackable access modules.

"Deploying DSL in customer locations means ISPs are no longer dependent on reach and loop restrictions of traditional service providers, to offer their customers high-speed broadband services," said Celeste Demilt, director of marketing for AccessLan.

"Our research indicates that 92% of all the buildings in the US have less than 12 tenants, representing about 65% of all the tenant population and a $11B+ total available MTU market opportunity," said DeMilt. "With the 24-port DSL access modules we introduced in January 2000, AccessLan provided broad coverage for the high-end Class-B building, MDU and Hospitality markets requiring larger densities. With introduction of the 8- and 12-port modules we have expanded the target to include the bottom two thirds of the Class-B and Class-C MTU market to offer the industry's broadest coverage of the MTU market."

"AccessLan's new lower-density SDSL access modules and 'soft' ports give Edge Connections an opportunity to address a greater portfolio of buildings in the markets we currently serve, allowing a much broader foot-print," said Ben Petro, vice president of marketing for Edge Connections. "

Pricing and Availability
The PL-1000 DSL access modules are currently in beta and will be available in 30 days. Prices for the access modules and bundles will range from $6,295 to $11,995 depending on configuration. The 12-port DSL access module can also be upgraded to 24-ports with a software upgrade.

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