ASCEND COMMUNICATIONS: Ascend extends Telewest Network with ATM switches
Presswire - January 14, 1998 15:53
M2 PRESSWIRE-14 January 1998-ASCEND COMMUNICATIONS: Ascend extends Telewest Network with ATM switches (C)1994-98 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
Ascend Communications today announced a major contract with Telewest Communications to extend its UK cable network. Beating off competition from 10 other companies, Ascend will integrate its CBX 500 ATM switches within Telewest's existing Frame Relay network, one that is already based on Ascend's world leading B-STDX Multiservice Frame Relay switch.
The enhanced network, which will attain national coverage over the next two years, allows Telewest to offer both business customers and residential customers leading- edge cable services. The current Telewest Frame Relay network supports data traffic, however, ATM was necessary in order to support integrated services such as voice and video, and to upgrade the available bandwidth.
The combination of Ascend's CBX 500 ATM switch and Ascend's NavisXtend suite of standards-based network management applications enables Telewest to provision switched virtual circuits (SVCs), allowing even greater levels of customer service and flexibility. The network management system provides Telewest with the ability to rapidly configure point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice or data connections, and Ascend's usage-based billing system, managed by NavisXtend, allows Telewest to deliver new flexible billing plans that meet their customers' business demands and reduce customer call costs.
Telewest's decision to go with Ascend's ATM platform is based on the quality of service (QoS) features the Ascend technology offers. Telewest can now enable customers to prioritise their data traffic: for example video, which needs constant bandwidth can be prioritised over non real time applications such as email, which can be transmitted in bursts.
According to Rayaz Siddiqi, Telewest Data Network Engineering Manager: "The main reasons for choosing the Ascend ATM platform were related to its flexibility of use, ease of implementation, network management capabilities and the commitment of Ascend to conform to future standards as they mature.
"Specifically, the switch offered an unparalleled degree of redundancy in power, switch fabric and control processors, and has a high port density thus reducing the cost of service provision. In addition, the network management system allows the easy creation of circuits and customer value-added features. Also, usage-based billing for both PVCs and SVCs can be offered in the future when required."
This investment provides Telewest with some real customer advantages including Customer Network Management, tariff to service matching, service availability guarantees and flexible multi-service capabilities providing Telewest with a scaleable platform that can grow to meet its customers future data communications requirements.
The contract also includes service and marketing support functions for Telewest, which according to Siddiqi has also been invaluable: "Ascend are really helping us to exploit the potential of this technology in all ways. As well as helping train our engineers and providing a first class support service, the company is helping us market the technology and the new types of service we offer to our customers."
Editor's Notes
About Telewest Communications
Telewest Communications plc is the leading UK cable operator with access to approximately 4.3 million homes and 300,000 businesses. Telewest's ordinary share capital is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the US NASDAQ National Market System. As at 30 June 1997, Telewest had an equity interest in 636,453 cable television customers and 907,754 residential and business telephone lines. The principal shareholders of Telewest are Telecommunications Inc. and US West Inc. each with 26.8% of the issued ordinary share capital and Cox Communications Inc. and SBC Communications Inc. each of whom own approximately 10% of the issued ordinary share capital. The remainder of the issued ordinary share capital is held by public shareholders.
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. provides best-of-breed technology in four key areas: Access Switching and Concentration, IP Switching, Backbone Switching, and Remote Products. Ascend is at the forefront of broadband data communications with its family of scaleable, carrier class Frame Relay, ATM and IP switching products. Used by public carriers and Internet service providers worldwide, Ascend products are forming the foundation of the public network infrastructure for global communications. Ascend is also a leading, worldwide provider of remote networking solutions for corporate central sites, Internet Service Providers' points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports products that utilize bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate networks for applications such as remote LAN access, Internet access, telecommuting, SOHO connectivity and videoconferencing/multimedia access.
Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars, service and support is available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide Web site ascend.com. |
