Regional Wholesale Transport Providers Deploy MetaSwitch Softswitches

MetaSwitch, a next-generation carrier switching and application solutions vendor, today announced wholesale transport providers Montana Advanced Information Network (MAIN) and IRIS Networks are deploying MetaSwitch’s softswitches in their state-of-the-art, fiber-optic networks.

The two regional network operators manage a total of more than 4,400 fiber miles over which they each offer IP-based carrier services with TDM and IP handoff to LECs as well as regional and national IECs.

MAIN, a division of Vision Net, and Tennessee-based IRIS Networks were established in the 1990s by consortia of LECs. Both companies build regional fiber-optic networks to lower signaling and transport interconnection costs for their member companies and other carrier customers.

MAIN and IRIS Networks will be using MetaSwitch’s core softswitch as part of initiatives to build out their next-generation networks, offer a broader range of Class 4 and Class 5 solutions, and expand their businesses beyond pure transport to higher-value multimedia services.

MAIN is expanding its network with distributed media gateways controlled by a centralized softswitch call agent, which is a significantly simplified network compared to traditional switching architectures, according to Corey Jensen, operations manager for MAIN. “MetaSwitch stood out for the breadth of proven applications, beyond core voice switching, that they could support today,” said Jensen.

IRIS Networks initially is deploying the MetaSwitch core switch for long -distance SIP trunking over its Cisco-powered OC48 DWDM network. The company eventually plans to offer higher-level voice services to its carrier customers.

“A key differentiator for MetaSwitch was the ability to deliver a broad range of Class 4 routing features from the same platform as a rich set of Class 5 capabilities,” said Peter De Bono, director of engineering for IRIS Networks. “MetaSwitch uniquely demonstrated their ability to migrate from our initial deployment to future IP-based enhanced subscriber services, without requiring a major system upgrade.”

MetaSwitch www.metaswitch.com

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