3Com and RedBack Networks Form Alliance to Focus On Deployment of ADSL
07:59 a.m. Jun 09, 1998 Eastern
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 1998--3Com Corporation
(NASDAQ:COMS) and RedBack Networks today announced an alliance to
address DSL deployment strategies that focus on DSL solutions from a systems
view. DSL is more than just an access technology - a DSL service requires
solutions at the customer premises, at the network termination point, at the edge of
the core network and all the way through to the service destination or
point-of-presence (POP).
To further this objective of deployable DSL systems, 3Com today announced it has
signed a worldwide distribution agreement for RedBack Network's Subscriber
Management System(tm) (SMS) 1000 concentrator. The SMS 1000 concentrator is
a new type of networking device designed to enhance the scalability of DSL
networks.
3Com and RedBack have also agreed to work together to tightly integrate the two
companies' DSL products by defining a set of features to provide comprehensive,
economical, simple and easily deployable end-to-end DSL network solutions.
"Our agreement with RedBack is one of many steps we are taking to ensure the
components that service providers deploy function as a high-performance, easy to
deploy and manage system," said Laura Howard, vice president, marketing and
business development, xDSL group, 3Com Corporation. "RedBack's SMS 1000
concentrator is an exciting product because it is designed to enable all the benefits
of ADSL without requiring the customer to invest in costly and time-consuming
network infrastructure upgrades. 3Com and RedBack make a strong alliance
because the setup of the DSL connection is done in the CPE and the service setup
of the DSL connection can be done in the RedBack concentrator. These two
critical components can greatly impact the ease-of-scalability and deployment of
ADSL."
By adding RedBack's SMS 1000 concentrator to 3Com's end-to-end ADSL
product portfolio, 3Com can now offer service providers a total DSL solution that
leverages their existing networks and end-user provisioning models. To the service
provider, the combination means easier deployment with higher profitability. To the
end user, it means high-speed, dedicated DSL access has now moved from promise
to reality.
"With DSL, service providers have the potential of extending their access services
to thousands of new users, including consumers in the home," said Larry Blair, vice
president of marketing at RedBack Networks. "If they are successful at attracting
these new subscribers, they then must accommodate much more significant
incoming data rates than they've architected their backbone networks to support.
The SMS 1000 concentrator offloads backbone routers of the 'high-touch'
processing functions, to increase the scalability of the existing infrastructure. And
its support of RADIUS configuration and management integrates seamlessly with
existing service providers' back-office systems." How the SMS 1000 Concentrator
Works
Under normal circumstances in a growing network, each new high-speed
connection requires additional configuration of the routers handling incoming traffic.
Routers are typically limited to a maximum of 256 logical connections. When higher
levels of user traffic require more virtual circuits (VCs), the service provider must
add more routers. This "hands-on" setup approach increases the configuration
demands, drives the cost of operations up, slows down deployment, and adds to
personnel and management issues.
The SMS 1000 concentrator is designed to handle thousands of subscriber
connections simultaneously. It automatically assigns DSL connections to IP using
the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or Point to Point Protocol (PPP)
dynamic IP addressing and dynamic domain name server assignment. This simpler
and faster means of deployment is far less expensive than adding and configuring
additional routers. Backbone routers communicate with the SMS 1000 concentrator
at Layer 3 using standard routing protocols such as Routing Information Protocol
(RIPv2), or at Layer 2 using tunneling and bridging techniques planned for future
release.
In addition, the SMS 1000 concentrator gives service providers access provisioning,
accounting, and management control over DSL end users by taking advantage of
the same systems already in place to accommodate large populations of dial users.
Typically service providers use a RADIUS database to provide user authentication,
authorization, and accounting; remote access servers (RAS) for session termination
and traffic aggregation; and conventional routers for Internet backbone
connectivity. The SMS 1000 concentrator integrates DSL services naturally into
this configuration using the existing operation systems and a familiar, scalable
management model. The 3Com ADSL CPE Advantage
3Com's new ADSL G.dmt and G.lite CPE ADSL family encompasses multi- and
single-user solutions for small and home businesses, telecommuters and consumers.
The company's ADSL G.dmt CPE solution suite unveiled today includes the
OfficeConnect(R) Remote 811 ADSL router, the internal U.S. Robotics(R) PCI
ADSL modem, and the U.S. Robotics(R) USB ADSL modem. The 3Com(R)
ADSL G.dmt CPE products give users the flexibility of the full-rate ADSL
implementation today and ability to migrate to the evolving G.lite specification later
this year. About RedBack Networks, Inc.
Founded in 1996 and headquarted in Sunnyvale, Calif., RedBack Networks
develops networking solutions for the next generation of Internet services.
RedBack's Subscriber Management System, introduced this spring to address the
scalability issues of Digital Subscriber Line deployment, received the Best of Show
award for WAN and remote access equipment at Networld + Interop, Las Vegas,
in May. Customers wanting more information about RedBack products can visit its
World Wide Web site at rback.com, or contact the company at
408-548-3500. About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to stay more
connected by communicating and sharing information and resources anytime,
anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video
communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than
200 million customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprise, small and
medium enterprise, carriers and network service providers, and consumers
comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for
building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For
further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com
or the press site at 3com.com.
3Com, OfficeConnect and U.S. Robotics are registered trademarks of 3Com
Corporation. RedBack and the Subscriber Management System are trademarks of
RedBack Networks, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of
the companies with which they are associated.
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