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| Paradyne’s JetFusion IAD |
Integrated access device vendors are in migration mode, preparing for a mass exodus of operators from TDM to packet with VoIP-enabled CPE that supports new service rollouts without expensive upgrades.
Analysts at In-Stat/MDR say TDM-based IADs dominate, but packet IADs will have a compound annual growth rate of 42.3 percent through 2007.
Accordingly, many equipment manufacturers recently have added VoIP support to their IADs, which continue to support interoperability with legacy phones and PBXs.
Larscom Inc., which Verilink Inc. this spring announced plans to acquire, has added the option for digital and/or analog interfaces to its eLink family of IADs, for example. The new products also can prioritize IP traffic with bandwidth allocation and shaping.
Verilink in April came out with the 8000 series of VoIP-enabled IADs, which can support VoIP and VoATM/VoDSL applications with future evolution to an increased port count.
Paradyne Networks has launched a new line of VoIP-ready IADs called JetFusion, which soon will support ADSL2, ADSL2+ and Wi-Fi access.
Zhone Technologies Inc. this spring uncorked the Z-Edge 6200, a VoIP IAD that works with existing endpoints and PBXs.
And ADTRAN Inc. provides an enhanced VoIP capability to its Total Access 600- and 850-series IADs that enables service providers to expand their services with hosted PBX services. “Carriers can now use a single, cost-effective platform to extend VoIP services to new customers without costly equipment upgrades,” explains Tim Saunders, vice president of product management, ADTRAN Enterprise Networks Division.
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| ADTRAN’s Total Access IAD |
While small and medium businesses — the key target market of integrated access services — and carriers are preparing for the journey to IP-everything, they aren’t there yet, which is why this crop of IADs focuses on practical migration strategies with interoperability between VoIP and legacy TDM equipment. A goal is the prevention of CPE obsolescence.
“The predominate deployment of IADs today is TDM IADs, however the majority of the IADs deployed tomorrow will be VoIP IADs,” explains Eric Vallone, director of product management at Paradyne. “Therefore, our T1/E1 IADs can be installed to support TDM voice services today and remotely upgraded to support VoIP when needed, without a truck roll or without a firmware swap. It’s baked in today.”
Similarly, remote or software-based upgrade options are part of most vendors’ new IADs, in an effort to protect operator investments and to make it simple and affordable to upgrade to IP.
“The target market for Verilink’s 8000 Series IADs encompasses the DSL networks of today, IP networks of tomorrow and the total IP networks of the future,” says Bruce Phillips, director of product management at Verilink. “By supporting legacy TDM applications as well as ATM, frame relay and VoIP applications, the 8000 Series is a versatile product that protects the service provider’s investment and extends the useful life of the IAD.
Also, it enables service providers to deliver a broader range of integrated services to their customers for lower prices.”
Chris Thompson, product manager for Total Access IADs in ADTRAN’s Enterprise Networks Division, notes that most carriers are looking to move to a packet-based network architecture.
“Some are deploying today, others are doing field trials, some are testing in their labs, and others are just wanting to know more,” he says.
While there is no question that IP-based integrated services are the future, Norm Bogen, director of communications infrastructure and services at In-Stat/MDR, says ILECs’ migration to IP will cannibalize existing TDM revenue streams.
“Competition is driving TDM service rates down, squeezing carrier profit margins and making IP access network investment less attractive,” he says, adding that FCC decisions not to regulate IP services may become the driver behind migration more than other technology benefits.
Even so, vendors are getting ready, noting packet IADs allow for more efficient use of bandwidth.
In packet-based network architectures, IADs can use dynamic bandwidth allocation to temporarily allocate bandwidth for voice or data traffic, releasing that bandwidth reservation when the call or transmission is completed.
