Batm Advanced Regulatory News (BVC)

11 Apr 2007 14:00

Telco Systems announced today that its T5 Compact Ethernet switchproduct line has been accepted for use in Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) andtelecommunication projects funded by the United States Department ofAgriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The acceptance followsthe recent announcement of the Company's RUS-approved EdgeGategateways which provide broadband Internet access, Internet phoneservice (VoIP), IPTV access and video-on-demand to rural customers.The approval enables service providers to offer a single-sourcecomplete FTTH and FTTB end-to-end solution using Telco Systems' familyof carrier-class IP aggregation and core routing switching platformsand CLE gateways deploying community broadband networks utilizing RUSloans and grants. £ "The approval of the T5 Compact is a significant step in easingthe design of a total end-to-end solution for RUS funded broadbandnetworks," stated Irit Gillath, vice president of VoIP product linemanagement for Telco Systems. "The switch offers the capacity ofphysically larger backbone switches at price points associated withworkgroup switching, which makes it not only cost effective, but alsothe ideal solution in cramped wiring closets and racks." £ The T5 Compact family is a NEBS Level 3 certified routing switchthat can accommodate up to 24 10/100/1000 fiber and copper circuitsand four Gigabit fiber or copper uplinks in a 1.75" rack space (1 RU).The T5 Compact is ideal for applications like video and voice serviceswhere reliability is critical, as it offers a standards-based, sub50msec switch recovery time for link or switch failure. When pairedwith the Company's RUS-approved EdgeGate CLE device, the T5C offers afield proven, fully managed end-to-end FTTH solution. £ Douglas County Community Network (DCCN) in Washington has beenusing Telco Systems' fiber-to-the-home solutions since 2001. Theydeploy both the EdgeGate and the T5C Gigabit Ethernet switches intheir network. According to Ben Carter, DCCN coordinator, "Thecombined EdgeGate and T5C solution has performed very well in ournetwork. The solution is very reliable, resilient and feature rich." £ USDA Rural Development Telecommunications program offers manyprograms for financing rural America's telecommunicationsinfrastructure, and is dedicated to increasing economic opportunityand improving the quality of life in rural communities. As a venturecapital entity, Rural Development has invested over $76 billion sincethe beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity andtechnical assistance to finance and foster growth in home ownership,business development, and critical community and technologyinfrastructure in rural communities. The grants are designated forrural, economically-challenged communities to provide broadbandtransmission services to rural schools, libraries, education centers,health care providers, law enforcement agencies, public safetyorganizations, as well as residents and businesses. £ Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDARural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site athttp://www.rurdev.usda.gov. £ About Telco Systems £ Based in Foxboro, Massachusetts, Telco Systems is a leadingprovider of carrier-class transport and access solutions for IP andTDM networks for carrier, service provider and enterprise markets. Itssuite of products includes solutions for Carrier Ethernet Access ringsand demarcation, residential and enterprise VoIP, FTTx, SONET, TDM andT1 backhaul. £ Founded in 1972, Telco Systems' focus is to maximize the power oftheir customers' networks by integrating transport, access and packettechnologies onto industry-leading platforms that meet today andtomorrow's network demands. £ Telco Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of BATM AdvancedCommunications (London stock exchange ticker symbol: BVC). For moreinformation, please visit Telco Systems' web site athttp://www.telco.com. Copyright Business Wire 2007