Lucent Technologies Announces New IP Gateway to Migrate Cable Networks From
Circuit-Switched to IP Cable Telephony
NEW ORLEANS, May 8, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- NCTA Cable 2000 Show, Booth
# 1327 -- Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced a standards-based
telephony gateway that helps cable operators migrate from using circuit-switched
telephony equipment to offering converged voice, video and data services over
one network using Internet protocol (IP).
Called the iMerge(TM) Network-based Call Signaling (NCS) Gateway, this solution
enables cable operators to deploy a converged, IP solution in their access
network while still leveraging their existing switches for connection to the
public telephone network.
Cable operators offering circuit-switched telephony service today essentially
have two separate networks and corresponding equipment, one for voice and one
for data. As a first step in migrating toward an end-to-end packet network,
iMerge connects directly to a cable operator's existing Class 5 switches and
cable modem termination systems using industry standard interfaces. iMerge
packetizes the incoming phone calls and sends them from the headend to the
customer using IP, or takes outgoing voice packets and translates them for
delivery to the switch and the public telephone network. "Cable operators who
have deployed circuit-switched telephony equipment are looking for ways to
migrate those networks to IP to reduce costs and create a platform for new IP
services," said Dee Dee Nye, cable marketing vice president, Lucent
Technologies' InterNetworking Systems. "Using iMerge enables them to continue
offering full-featured, reliable telephone service while beginning to create a
truly converged multiservice network."
iMerge is part of Lucent's 7R/E(TM) Packet Solutions, which offers existing
service providers a seamless migration to packet networks and provides emerging
carriers with the ability to build a new packet network. iMerge complements and
expands Lucent's CableConnect(SM) Solutions -- a set of integrated products and
services cable operators can use to offer their customers reliable telephony and
high-speed data services over existing cable networks delivering video services.
iMerge will begin trials with cable operators next month and will be generally
available later this year.
iMerge was developed by AG Communications Systems, a Phoenix-based subsidiary of
Lucent Technologies and a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced
communication products and services, in conjunction with the Cable Solutions
Group in Lucent's InterNetworking Systems business unit.
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and
delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation
communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the
research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such
as optical and wireless networks; Internet infrastructure; communications
software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based
enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional
network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent
Technologies, visit its Web site at lucent.com.
SOURCE Lucent Technologies |
