SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2000 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., today announced that PowerNet Global Communications (formerly PNG Telecommunications, Inc.), a Cincinnati, Ohio-based telecommunications service provider, has selected Cisco's New World voice technology, supported by enhanced services solutions from SynapSys, to build a voice over IP (VoIP) network over an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) backbone for domestic and international calling. This new network, which launches in February, will allow PowerNet Global Communications to quickly deploy enhanced telephony services with greater flexibility and at lower costs than with a traditional circuit-based switch, while realizing increased profitability and decreased cost of network ownership.
PowerNet Global Communications' VoIP network will include a Cisco VCO/4K open programmable switch for enhanced services switching, Cisco AS5300/Voice Gateways for local loop bypass, managed services, international toll arbitrage and fax relay, and Cisco 3600 series modular access multiservice platforms with voice/fax network modules for consolidating voice, fax and data traffic on a single network. PowerNet Global will take advantage of enhanced services capabilities provided by SynapSys, a Cisco New World Ecosystem voice applications partner, to deliver a variety of innovative voice applications over Cisco's infrastructure.
"The move to packet-based voice networks is an inevitable one for any telecommunications company that wants to stay alive. But we don't want to just survive, we want to take the lead; that's why we chose Cisco," said Bernie Stevens, president and CEO of PowerNet Global Communications. "Cisco's packetized voice solution delivers superior voice quality and provides an integrated switching platform that no one else offered. And, with the combination of Cisco's open telephony architecture and SynapSys' enhanced services platform, we can get to market with new, creative telephony services ahead of our competition instead of waiting around for proprietary solutions."
The new, enhanced services, enabled through SynapSys' NUCLEUS software running on the Cisco VCO/4K, will include conference calling, 800# with PIN, calling cards (pre- and post-paid, as well as international), one number follow me and unified messaging. In the initial roll out, PowerNet Global Communications will deliver service to business and residential customers through PoPs in Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The company plans to expand service through new PoPs in major metropolitan cities across the country by the fourth quarter 2000. As the network is built out, PowerNet Global Communications will offer it as a gateway for international and domestic carriers seeking more cost-effective interconnect charges.
"As competition continues to increase in the telecommunications marketplace, Cisco is focused on helping forward-thinking providers like PowerNet Global," said Larry Lang, vice president of service provider marketing at Cisco Systems. "With this deployment, PowerNet Global's network now is based predominantly on Cisco solutions, thus qualifying them as a Cisco Powered Network provider."
A benefit of the Cisco Powered Network (CPN) program for PowerNet Global is their participation in joint marketing, technology sharing and selling activities with Cisco. PowerNet Global, along with Cisco, is helping to create a New World communications infrastructure that supports high-value integrated communications services. This New World network will enable both individuals and business communities to gain the benefits of these leading-edge technologies and services.
Cisco VCO/4K Open Programmable Switch
The Cisco VCO/4K open programmable switch enables service providers worldwide to build scaleable, cost-effective networks that support the rapid deployment of wireline and wireless voice services. It integrates seamlessly into existing telecommunication infrastructures to deliver enhanced voice services for the PSTN as well as New World, packet-based networks. As an integrated option with the Cisco AccessPath-VS3, the solution provides a flexible gateway for circuit- and packet-switched networks. The Cisco VCO/4K open programmable switch is the basis for some of the most innovative applications on the market today. In addition, it can support core switching functions such as tandem switching, international gateway and Internet offload.
"Programmable switches play a significant part in bridging the gap between the old and new worlds of telecommunications," said Jeremy Duke, president of Synergy Research Group. "For veteran carriers, programmable switches provide a key transition from a voice-based past to a multi-service, packet-based future. For New World networks, they permit rapid time-to-market as new carriers establish themselves and prepare to meet the increasing demand for new, data-based telephony applications."
Cisco AS5300/Voice Gateway and Universal Access Server
Service providers and enterprises rely on the Cisco AS5300/Voice Gateway for voice quality, rich service capabilities, price-performance, management, and scalability. Mier Communications testing rated the Cisco AS5300/Voice Gateway as best in the areas of voice quality. The Cisco AS5300/Voice Gateway is feature rich, allowing carriers to provide high-value services, while delivering performance for interconnect trunk aggregation. The Cisco AS5300/Voice Gateway supports up to 4T1/E1 voice calls in 2 RU, making it the highest performance, highest density voice gateway on the market. Similarly, in remote access applications, the Cisco AS5300 Universal Access Server offers carriers high-performance and high-density for connecting to the Internet and corporate intranets. For voice or data, the Cisco AS5300 Universal Access Server is designed for modular growth, enabling networks to scale in a "pay as you grow" architecture.
Cisco 3600 Modular Access Multiservice Platform
The Cisco 3600 series is a family of modular access multiservice platforms for medium-sized and large offices and smaller Internet service providers. With more than 50 modular interface options, the Cisco 3600 family provides solutions for voice/data integration, virtual private networks (VPNs), dial access, and multiprotocol data routing. Using Cisco voice/fax network modules, the Cisco 3600 series allows customers to consolidate voice, fax and data traffic on a single network infrastructure. The high-performance, modular architecture of the Cisco 3600 series protects customers' investments in network technology and integrates the functions of several devices into a single, manageable solution.
SynapSys' NUCLEUS Enhanced Services Platform
NUCLEUS is a modular, enhanced services platform for processing voice traffic in both prepaid and postpaid calling environments. NUCLEUS offers customers a carrier class switch-based or PC-based integrated voice response (IVR) application environment, platform functionality control, and back office capabilities, employing a browser-based graphical user interface. NUCLEUS can be deployed in a TDM, Voice over IP, and/or mixed network environment utilizing Cisco products and technologies. Features include a GUI-based call scripting and enhanced services development environment, one number follow-me, multilingual voice prompts, call branding, flexible N-tier call routing, extensive fraud detection and monitoring, least cost routing, speed dialing, voice mail, and conference calling.
