RAD Teams with Alcatel and Tylite To Provide World Class Phone Solution to Spokane Schools Using Gigabit
BusinessWire, 08/28/2000 15:20
MAHWAH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2000-- Ethernet Spokane Educational Metropolitan Area Network is the first of
its kind running voice to over 50 sites with Gigabit Ethernet
The city of Spokane, Washington invests in its children's education. Reflecting this commitment, citizens of Spokane approved a bond initiative to allocate their tax dollars to upgrading the school system's voice and data infrastructure. E-MAN Saves Thousands of Dollars a Month on Centrex and Frame Relay Services
The bond initiative resulted in an E-MAN (educational metropolitan area network): a new Gigabit Ethernet IP-based network designed to link all Spokane elementary and secondary schools (K-12) with local and state colleges and universities over fiber. The educational goals of the E-MAN are to bring high speed filtered Internet, share data among the different educational communities and buildings - such as library information - and enable voice and videoconferencing among all educational institutions. The Spokane Board of Education originally considered SONET for the infrastructure but eliminated this option because of its cost and complexity. Finally, Gigabit Ethernet from Alcatel was selected because of its high performance, simplicity of installation and maintenance, and affordability.
Spokane School District Steps Up
Spokane School District 81(SD81) was the first to step up to install a Gigabit Ethernet network. The SD81 E-MAN currently connects 53 sites, at distances of up to 20 km (12.5 miles). The original plan was to upgrade to a fiber network which would support both the voice and data needs of the district - saving thousands of dollars a month on existing Centrex and Frame Relay services by transmitting voice and data over the shared media. The fiber network will even extend to each classroom, with copper to the desk for data and phone connections. The school district has seen remote server backup times drop from over two hours to under two minutes. In addition to supporting the curricular goals and efficiently protecting the district's student and business data, every classroom has a phone with enhanced 911 capability connected to the network. Enhanced 911 calls display the location of the call to the room in the school. Whole classes of students on computers can go to a web site at the same time without undue delays.
VoIP Gateways Were Step One
In order to support voice on the network, Voice over IP (VoIP) gateways were installed to move voice over the network. This approach, however, led to several unforeseen problems such as echo, delay and PBX interface issues that slowed the implementation process. The phone/VoIP system was tuned to work pretty well but had room for improvement. Bottom line: VoIP gateways worked pretty well but a better solution was found.
IPmux: Traditional Telephony over IP Passes with Flying Colors
RAD's IPmux Gateway provided the best solution for T1 trunk replacement MAN architectures. The product converts T1 voice and data streams into packets for transmission over IP, and Ethernet-based networks (TDM over IP). In the SD81 network, it connects the PBX in each school to the central PBX for connection to the PSTN for delivery of traditional voice communications over the same IP infrastructure that is used for data.
"We are able to provide a voice over the network system with none of the compromises of most VoIP systems," says Jim Wilson of Tylite Inc., the systems integrator and former Alcatel program manager for the Spokane E-MAN project. "We were very glad to hear about the IPmux Gateway," Jim says, "because we had promised the customer a complete solution and it wasn't working well enough. The IPmux is well suited for our application, it sounds just like the normal telephone, even music-on-hold works." "We are experiencing excellent quality voice with the new network," confirms Dennis Schweikhardt, Manager of the Technology Infrastructure for SD81.
E-MAN Futures
Many school districts around the world are seeing the advantages in cost savings and performance of Gigabit E-MAN's. Tylite provides system integration services for Gigabit Ethernet networks for School districts, businesses and home developments.
About Tylite
Tylite was formed in response to an emerging need for technical expertise in the design and development of high-speed data networks or Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN). The vision of Tylite is that future networks will be Ethernet and Internet Protocol-based. Recently a construction management function was added, rounding out Tylite's ability to provide services from conception through and including the implementation of these networks. Tylite's completed projects, and the projects currently in process, combine all aspects of high speed connectivity, including gigabit data transfer, voice, Internet, and video access. Video projects include broadcast, video conferencing, video on demand, and security video. Tylite brings connectivity to the home and business.
About Alcatel
Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of $23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: www.alcatel.com.
About RAD Data Communications
Since 1981, RAD has been a premier manufacturer and a technological pioneer in ATM, Frame Relay, ISDN, high-speed transmission over copper and fiber, voice compression, IP routing and rate and interface conversion. RAD is dedicated to offering carriers, systems integrators and corporate customers flexible, scaleable, high-quality product and system solutions. Service and sales support are available in more than 100 countries through a network of expert partners and authorized distributors. They are backed by RAD offices in Israel, Argentina, Brazil, China, Scandinavia, France, Germany, UK, Canada and the United States.
RAD is a member of the $390 million RAD Group of companies, a world leader in networking and internetworking product and system solutions. For more information visit RAD's web site at www.rad.com.
RAD Products: market@radusa.com
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