LU Introduces Revolutionary IP Switch And Breakthrough Portfolio of IP Products for Service Provider Networks
[I would be interested in comments on these announcements.]
PR Newswire - May 27, 1998 08:24
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MCI Is First To Evaluate Lucent's PacketStar IP Switch
MURRAY HILL, N.J., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucent Technologies today introduced the
industry's most reliable and advanced portfolio of Internet Protocol (IP)-based data network products
for service providers, revolutionizing the way data, voice and video are handled in public networks. In
addition, the portfolio makes possible the delivery of new premium data services while slashing
provisioning and maintenance costs by up to 40 percent.
"There is a network revolution at hand and we intend to lead it," said Rich McGinn, chairman and
CEO, Lucent Technologies. "The issue for our customers is how to offer the same quality of service in
the data world as we do in the voice world -- service that is rich in features and reliability and that can
generate new revenues. Lucent understands better than anyone how the data and voice worlds must
work together and we are developing the next-generation architectures to lead this revolution."
"We are meeting this challenge by offering an integrated suite of products that revolutionize the way
new networks handle data while gracefully evolving existing voice networks to the IP world," said Bill
O'Shea, president, Lucent Technologies Data Networking Systems. "And as service providers expect
from Lucent, we will deliver unparalleled reliability, the most advanced Bell Labs technology and ease
of management and operations with unmatched professional services and support."
The IP portfolio is led by:
-- The Lucent Technologies PacketStar(TM) IP Switch -- a next generation
intelligent Layer 3/Layer 4 wide area network routing switch which
works with today's installed base of traditional routers -- yet goes
far beyond their performance by managing data in a way that
accommodates different levels of customer needs from casual Internet
users to businesses with critical data applications. For the first
time, service providers will be able to guarantee and price multiple
tiers of quality from low cost to premium service.
"The PacketStar IP Switch is truly a revolutionary switch," O'Shea said. "For the first time, one system
combines the superior bandwidth and speed to help break through Internet data bottlenecks with
intelligent traffic management capabilities to guarantee multiple tiers of service."
"These capabilities are critical to delivering large-scale telephony and fax services over IP networks,
data and video over IP and virtual private networks. For the next-generation applications that
customers demand, the carrier-class PacketStar IP Switch is essential," said Carly Fiorina, president of
Lucent's Global Service Provider Business.
MCI To Evaluate
The PacketStar IP Switch will be tested and evaluated by MCI in June as part of a plan to upgrade
their Internet backbone.
"MCI carries hundreds of terabytes of traffic per week," said Vinton Cerf, MCI's senior vice
president, Internet Architecture and Engineering, and one of the founders of the Internet. "We think
Lucent has shown us a novel design that is an improvement over existing routing switch technology.
We look forward to working with this new product to determine its applicability to our Internet
services."
The PacketStar IP Switch, which interoperates with Lucent's complete access products portfolio,
delivers the industry's highest capacity -- up to 32 million packets per second of system throughput at
full wire speed -- while offering 128 gigabits per second (Gbps) of total backplane capacity with a
natural evolution in scale to Terabit aggregate switching rates.
Using innovative architectures and algorithms for traffic queueing and scheduling, service providers can
maximize new revenues by allocating network resources to deliver service levels scaleable to millions
of users.
Developed by Bell Labs in 12 months and powered by several patent-pending technology advances,
the PacketStar IP Switch enables network operators for the first time to create "virtual leased lines"
down to departmental desk tops -- guaranteeing bandwidth and explicit levels of service. This is critical
in the delivery of advanced applications like voice-over-IP telephony and Virtual Private Networks
(VPNs).
The PacketStar IP Switch supports both IP over SONET/SDH and IP over ATM applications and is
expected to be generally available in the third quarter of this year.
Revolutionary New Class of Product
-- The Lucent Technologies PathStar(TM) Access Server is a revolutionary
new class of product designed specifically to enable network operators
to offer low-cost, reliable local and long-distance voice and data
services over IP networks including the Internet. Priced at half the
cost of the multiple products needed to perform the same functions
today, the PathStar Access Server acts as a central office switch-
router for the IP world.
The PathStar Access Server, at about $300 per line and half the cost in a typical configuration, is
expected to be going into customer trial later this year. It is expected to be generally available in the
first quarter of 1999.
"What makes this product revolutionary is that it is an integrated routing IP platform that services most
types of traffic -- from POTS and ISDN to xDSL -- and delivers on the features customers demand,
from billing to directory services," O'Shea said.
The PathStar Access Server offers the industry's most complete set of integrated telephony features
that subscribers demand, including billing, call waiting, call forwarding, operator assistance and a
standard interface to directory services systems.
It is the only IP-based access server that offers direct access to the existing standard copper
wire-based local loop -- eliminating today's two-step dialing.
The PathStar Access Server is an effective solution for carriers expanding into new areas, for
competitive entrants building networks based on IP architectures, for service providers starved for new
data services capacity or for Internet Service Providers offering standards-based Internet Telephony
services.
It also provides full access to the existing circuit switched public voice network. Subscribers may reach
any telephone anywhere around the corner or around the world, whether it is a packet phone, a
standard telephone, a PC with phone capabilities, on the public network, a corporate intranet or the
global Internet.
"The PathStar Access Server is built from ultra-reliable access technology used with the
5ESS(R)-2000 AnyMedia Switch," O'Shea said. "At the same time, PathStar's routing capability
delivers highly scaleable, high-capacity access to the Internet, allowing the integration of voice and data
into a single, low-cost access server at the edge of the network."
Bridging the Voice and Data Worlds
The Lucent Technologies PacketStar Gateway Solution bridges the voice and data worlds, efficiently
moving voice traffic and voice related services over networks that were designed for data. This
solution consists of a voice gateway, which turns voice signals into packets for IP or ATM networks; a
signaling gateway, which provides signaling and routing information needed to carry those packets
through the network; and a feature server which serves as a platform for the development of advanced
network services.
The PacketStar Gateway Solution will allow new and existing network operators to provide an array
of local, tandem and toll voice network services and emerging data network services on IP and ATM
networks. And to simplify network management, the solution allows traditional service providers to
consolidate their existing circuit-based tandem and toll networks into one broadband packet network.
"Lucent is bringing its hundred plus years of experience in networking signaling and routing to the data
world," O'Shea said. "This reliable solution will reduce provisioning and maintenance costs by up to 40
percent over a typical voice network. It's a graceful evolution for a service provider with an embedded
network and a great way for a new entrant to assure a network with the best quality."
The solution will deliver density that is up to 30 times what competitive solutions can currently deliver.
In a central office where space is at a premium, this huge capacity advantage means fewer boxes will
have to be installed, with greater reliability and greatly reduced complexity.
The PacketStar Gateway solution is expected be available for customer trials in the fourth quarter and
is expected to be available in the first quarter of 1999.
Completing the IP Portfolio
Additionally, Lucent also announced new functionality on its Portmaster(TM) 4 remote IP access
technology. Unveiled in March, the Portmaster 4 offers carrier-class capacity and service flexibility,
providing up to 4,320 dial-up IP connections in a single rack and supporting any service on any port at
any time. Lucent will integrate Portmaster 4 technology directly into the 5ESS switch, allowing service
providers to offer V.90 modem and ISDN services wholesale to ISPs. This brings IP capability onto
the edge 5ESS AnyMedia switch and allows service providers to offload data from congested
inter-office circuits and route traffic over packet networks. This also reduces costs to Internet Service
Providers by eliminating multiple ISDN trunks. The new solution will be available for customer trials in
July, with general availability expected in the third quarter of this year.
As further proof of the breadth of Lucent's industry-leading IP portfolio for service providers, Lucent
Technologies recently introduced the latest release of its Internet Telephony Server for Service
Providers, now branded as the PacketStar ITS (Internet Telephony Server). Lucent's PacketStar(TM)
ITS-SP 2.0 allows service providers to offer customers high-quality voice and fax transmission over IP
networks using analog phones, faxes and PCs.
The PacketStar ITS-SP 2.0, combined with other components, including the ITS Service Access
Manager and the ITS Administrative Manager, enables service providers to manage and scale their
networks to support multiple gateways and servers across the public network. The ITS-SAM
performs the H.323 gatekeeper function, providing authentication of users attempting to place calls,
administration of gateways across zones and call set-up, and enables the ITS-SP 2.0 to scale as
service providers expand their networks. The ITS-AM provides web-based network management.
PacketStar ITS is generally available and used by customers in North America and Europe.
Unprecedented Bandwidth Management
And finally, earlier this year Lucent introduced a new type of network element for managing IP traffic
and other bandwidth requirements, the ultra-reliable WaveStar(TM) Bandwidth Manager.
The WaveStar Bandwidth Manager integrates all access and transport facilities into a single network
node for service providers. Self-healing ring interfaces within the system integrate traditionally separate
network elements such as IP and ATM switches and routers, add/drop multiplexers, and digital cross
connect systems. This consolidation allows service provider savings of up to 60 percent in equipment
costs and up to 85 percent in space requirements.
WaveStar Bandwidth Manager is going into service with two customers, Tyco Submarine Systems,
Ltd., formerly AT&T Submarine Systems, and the CTR Group, Ltd., a global undersea optical
networking company.
And unifying operations support for these breakthough IP products will be a suite of integrated
management software systems for service providers that are a part of the OneVision(TM) Network
Management family of products.
"This comprehensive list of new and enhanced IP solutions for service providers is proof positive that
carriers are demanding a new class of communications networking and we are responding," Fiorina
said. "Whether for revolutionary business opportunities or evolutionary networks, Lucent solutions
deliver reliability, speed, capacity, control and manageability."
Lucent will be showing these and other service provider solutions in Booth 6639 at SuperComm, June
9-11. Lucent Technologies designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks,
communications systems and software, data networking systems, business telephone systems and
microelectronics components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm for the company. More
information about Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, NJ, is available on its Web site
at lucent.com.
SOURCE Lucent Technologies
/NOTE TO EDITORS: There will be a media/industry analysts conference call
today at 12:15 p.m. EDT/9:15 a.m. PDT with Bill O'Shea, president of
Lucent's Data Networking Systems group. Call in numbers: USA/Canada
800-288-8968; other locations, 612-332-0226/
/CONTACT: John Callahan, 908-953-5350, or home, 703-758-1449, or
johncallahan@lucent.com, or Bill Price, 908-582-4820, or home, 201-823-2544,
or williamprice@lucent.com, both of Lucent Technologies/
/Web site: lucent.com
(LU)
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