Ascend Delivers First Carrier-Class Signaling System 7 - SS7 - Solution for Voice and Data Integration
Ascend Signaling Gateway Relieves Internet Congestion, Enables Future Revenue Generating Services for Network Service Providers
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 1998-- Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND - news), a leader in wide area networking (WAN) solutions for providers and users of the Public Network, today announced the Ascend Signaling Gateway (ASG), a new product that allows the company's market leading WAN Access Switches to communicate directly with the SS7 carrier-signaling network.
This capability allows Network Service Providers (NSPs) to relieve congestion on central office (CO) telephone switches, thereby eliminating the need to purchase additional class 4/5 CO equipment, and will in future releases allow more interoperability between data networks and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
For end users and the corporate enterprise, the Ascend Signaling Gateway will bring greater reliability in Internet connectivity, and enable new revenue generating applications over integrated voice and data networks.
''The Ascend Signaling Gateway is a key element of Ascend's MultiVoice strategy to deliver managed toll quality, carrier-class voice and fax services for carriers and ISPs over their existing and future data networks,'' said David Misunas, vice president and general manager Voice and Carrier Signaling at Ascend.
''We're rolling out a solution that saves NSPs money and relieves congestion problems, while extending the platform to lead the market in transparent voice/data integration.''
The SS7 Market Opportunity
Data traffic on public networks is growing at such a fast pace that in some areas of the world it has already surpassed voice traffic. To meet this growing demand, NSPs are building carrier-class data networks to carry voice, data and video traffic. This is what Ascend refers to as the New Public Network (NPN).
However, the NPN will need to interoperate with the existing PSTN and the key to that interoperability is the SS7 carrier-signaling network. By creating gateways, such as the Ascend Signaling Gateway, data networking vendors can allow advanced voice and data applications to work interchangeably over either network, thereby increasing functionality and reducing costs.
As a leader in the WAN Access market, ranked number one in revenue and ports by market research firm Dell'Oro Group, Ascend is well positioned to provide the first carrier-class SS7 solution for voice/data convergence. Delivering an end-to-end scalable approach to SS7, the ASG enables NSPs to leverage a broad range of capabilities such as Internet call diversion, voice/fax over data, VPNs, and high-speed 56K-modem technology.
As a key component of Ascend's MultiVoice strategy, the ASG enables transparent integration of voice networks with voice and fax over Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and Frame Relay networks, allowing customers to maximize their existing investments.
''Ascend's SS7 strategy is in line with the needs of many Service Providers seeking to achieve synergies between their voice and data networks,'' said Christine Heckart, vice president of TeleChoice. ''The Ascend Signaling Gateway is designed to help Service Providers solve the immediate problem of Internet traffic congestion from the PSTN, and position for future service opportunities like voice and fax over IP.''
Features and Benefits
Many networking vendors have made general announcements about SS7, but only Ascend is delivering a complete, carrier-class SS7 solution that combines Ascend's market leading MAX TNT(TM) product with the Ascend Signaling Gateway.
Benefits of the Ascend Signaling Gateway include:
-- Cost-effective solution to Internet call diversion. The ASG
enables Service Providers to relieve congestion on voice
networks by diverting data calls off of costly class 4/5
switches to Ascend's MAX TNT WAN Access Switches.
-- Provides a path to new revenue generating services. The ASG
will use existing SS7 voice networks to route voice, fax and
data calls over IP, ATM and Frame Relay networks. This lowers
infrastructure costs for Service Providers and enables the
creation of new revenue generating services over integrated voice
and data networks.
-- Carrier-class SS7 solution for voice and data integration. The
ASG is built on the proven SS7 HP OpenCall platform, and the NEBs
compliant, high-density MAX TNT WAN Access Switch. In addition,
the ASG is scalable from 10,000 ports to 200,000 and is fault
tolerant with dual HP 9000 processors, dual Signal interface
units and dual connections to the MAX TNT. One ASG can connect
to multiple MAX TNTs.
-- Enabling transaction based billing over data networks. By
providing call setup and call duration information, NSPs can now
provide transaction-based billing. The ASG produces standard Call
Detail Records for billing.
''With such dramatic Internet growth, the biggest problem ISPs and carriers face is dwindling network resources,'' said Bob Walsh, chief information officer at Thrifty Call. ''In routing traffic off the PSTN, the Ascend Signaling Gateway will not only provide optimal network efficiency, but make room for future value-added and cost-effective services. We are eager to implement this important SS7 solution.''
Future releases of the ASG will integrate Ascend's MultiVoice technologies with SS7 carrier signaling, and will equip Service Providers with Intelligent Network-based (IN) enhanced services, including alternate call routing, network modem pooling, and other standard SS7 capabilities for optimal network resource management.
The ASG and MAX TNTs are managed by Ascend's NavisAccess for monitoring, provisioning, configuring, and reporting. NavisAccess provides integrated network management and control.
The ASG is being developed in three phases: Phase I provides Internet call diversion, Phase II will integrate voice services across the data network, and Phase III will enable enhanced IN network services.
HP OpenCall for Reliability and Interoperability
Ascend's SS7 solution is built on HP OpenCall, a comprehensive platform for computer-based IN functionality for carrier-class reliability and flexibility. The ASG combines Ascend's networking innovation with HP's carrier-class technology to provide a stable and interoperable environment for SS7 capabilities. HP OpenCall has been proven as a Service Control Point (SCP) in carrier networks, ensuring ASG's reliability and interoperability.
Pricing and Availability
The first release of the Ascend Signaling Gateway will support Internet call diversion from voice to data networks with multiple hardware configurations for growth from 10,000 ports to 200,000 ports. The initial release, scheduled for the end of August, will support up to 50,000 ports.
The total system price per port is $69 to $101 (US pricing). International pricing and availability may vary. Customers outside of the United States should contact their local Ascend sales representative.
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.
Press and industry analysts, please contact: Meredith Valt, Alexander Communications, 415/923-1660 (ext. 131), mvalt@alexandercom.com. Investors and financial analysts, please contact: Kristina Graziano, 510/747-2345, kristina.graziano@ascend.com; or all other inquiries please call toll-free: 800/ASCEND4.
For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend web site at www.ascend.com, or send e-mail to info@ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif. 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is 510/814-2300.
The foregoing statements may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations as a result of factors including, but not limited to, the Company's success in developing, introducing or shipping new products, competition, the mix of distribution channels employed, the Company's dependence on single or limited source suppliers for certain components used in its products, risks inherent in international sales, seasonality and general economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed in Ascend's 10-K, 10-Q and other filings made periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
