Good News!
NHC allies itself with Tollgrade for DSL providers
NHC Communications Inc NHC
Shares issued 12,910,659 May 10 close $7.50
Thu 11 May 2000 News Release
Also Nortel Networks Limited (NT)
Mr. Sylvain Abitol of NHC Communications reports
NHC Communications and Tollgrade Communications have concluded an
interoperability agreement to offer a complete end-to-end cross- connect
and digital subscriber line (DSL) loop qualification platform to local
exchange carriers. Under the terms of the strategic partnership, the two
companies will combine Tollgrade's DigiTest test system with NHC's virtual
cross-connect system (VCCS) for an integrated solution as required by the
customer. The two systems will work together to help local exchange
carriers provision, qualify and test their local loops for the deployment
of DSL services for high-speed Internet access.
As a result, both competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and incumbent
local exchange carriers (ILECs) will be able to conduct remote testing,
provisioning, fallback switching and service migration, utilizing NHC's
true any-to-any cross-connect capability and Tollgrade's single-ended loop
qualification functionality. In addition, LECs will now be better enabled
to test, qualify, deploy and redirect DSL unbundled copper loops at
carrier-scale, without having to dispatch technicians to the central office
or co-location.
"An increasing number of our customers want a completely integrated DSL
solution," said Chris Allison, chairman and chief executive officer, of
Tollgrade Communications Inc., "By teaming up with NHC, we can continue
focusing on our core testing products, while also providing CLECs and ILECs
with leading edge remote switching technology."
NHC manufactures industry-leading physical layer cross-connect products for
DSL networks. "This agreement sustains the momentum NHC has created by
partnering with a number of DSL industry leaders," said Sylvain Abitbol,
president and chief executive officer of NHC Communications. "An important
element of our growth strategy is to make our virtual cross-connect system
an industry standard for local exchange carriers seeking end-to-end DSL
deployment solutions."
"Vendor partnerships and strategic alliances are central to the development
of whole product solutions that meet the CLEC's and ILEC's specific needs,"
said Peter Benisti, vice-president of sales for NHC. "Service providers
find tremendous value in vendor partnerships as they make deployment
decisions easier."
Tollgrade has previously announced strategic partnerships with Lucent
Technologies and Nortel Networks to ensure that the DigiTest system is
compatible with the telecommunications industry's major test operations
support systems (OSS).
About NHC
NHC Communications Inc. is an international leader in the design and
manufacture of innovative physical layer high-speed switched access
solutions for established and next-generation voice/data networks. With a
unique range of technologies developed from years of experience, NHC is now
at the heart of today's corporate enterprise service market and the
telecommunications industry.
About Tollgrade
Registered under ISO-9001, Tollgrade Communications Inc. designs,
engineers, markets and supports test-access and test-extension products for
the telecommunications and cable television industries. Tollgrade, which is
headquartered in Cheswick, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, employs more than
320 people and achieved record revenues of $61.1-million in 1999. The
company maintains a presence in regions across the United States and in the
United Kingdom. Tollgrade's Web address is tollgrade.com. |
