Internet Telephony: Emerging Carriers Go Live with Nortel Networks' Internet Telephony Solution. Nortel Networks Expands Internet Telephony Portfolio with General Availability of Passport 8780 Packet Voice Gateway - GST Communications, Westinghouse Communications Business Markets use Nortel Networks' Passport 8780 Packet Voice Gateway - Company Operations

Cambridge Telcom Report, June 21, 1999

Nortel Networks Monday announced that GST Communications and Westinghouse Communications Business Markets (a division of RSL COM U.S.A., Inc.), two emerging service providers, have deployed the Passport 8780 Packet Voice Gateway - the newest member of Nortel Networks industry-leading Internet Telephony portfolio. Now generally available, the Passport 8780 enables Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), Inter-Exchange Carriers (IXCs) and Integrated Communications Providers (ICPs) to secure existing voice service revenues while gradually building next-generation packet networks, expanding data service revenues, and cutting facilities costs.

Ideal for emerging carriers, the Passport 8780 delivers carrier-grade voice quality, network availability and reliability, as well as industry-leading density of approximately 3,000 simultaneous voice calls on a single shelf. With the Passport 8780, carriers can take traffic off TDM networks and place it over ATM-based packet networks while maintaining toll voice quality and service transparency. PSTN congestion can be reduced without carriers having to purchase additional tandem switches or facilities.

"We are taking live PSTN traffic, including our revenue-generating operator traffic, and putting it over the Passport 8780 in a packet-based network," said Steve Hensley, vice president of engineering of GST Telecommunications, Inc, an Integrated Communications Provider headquartered in Vancouver, Wash. "Since this is real customer traffic, we cannot accept any reduction in voice quality or services. The Passport 8780 gives us toll-quality voice and real bandwidth savings. So not only do we save money, but we take another sure step in the evolution of our PSTN network to a next-generation data-optimized network."

First introduced in October 1998, the Passport 8780 utilizes the ATM Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2) standards that are optimized for telephony over ATM interworking. With advanced voice processing features, including speech compression, silence detection, and silence suppression, the Passport 8780 can be configured to provide carriers more than 66 percent bandwidth savings.

"With Passport 8780, we can cut our facilities costs through standards-based bandwidth compression, and provide a common infrastructure for both voice and data service," said Jim Kohosek, president and general manager of Westinghouse Communications, which provides telecom services across points-of-presence (PoPs) located in key metropolitan areas throughout the US. "We are currently deploying Passport 8780 Packet Voice Gateways in our major exchanges."

Designed to support open standards, the Passport 8780 interoperates with most PSTN voice switches and ATM switches. "The Passport 8780 provides a seamless bridge between today's reliable PSTN network and the packet data networks of tomorrow," said Glenn Falcao, president of Internet and Service Provider Networks, Nortel Networks. "It plays a key role in Nortel Networks' vision of Unified Networks."

In upcoming product releases, the Passport 8780 will offer switched services including support for SS7 ISUP protocols and Voice over IP (VoIP). The Passport 8780 can also be deployed with the Passport 4740, an integrated access device, to form Nortel Networks MultiService Connect solution, enabling carriers to deliver complete voice and data integrated services. Nortel Networks Passport 8780 is now generally available with list pricing of around $200 per DS-0.

The Passport 8780 is part of Nortel Networks' Internet Telephony portfolio -- the broadest portfolio of next generation Internet Telephony solutions to wireline, wireless and cable service providers and enterprises in order to simplify voice and Internet access for businesses and consumers. The flexible approach meets the explosive demand for voice and Internet services such as voice over IP (Internet Protocol), multimedia applications, unified messaging and virtual private networks.

Westinghouse Communications designs and installs a full range of value-added telecommunications services including complete voice and data services tailored for specific business needs at a competitive price. The Westinghouse/RSL COM, global network is comprised of state-of-the-art switches in key metropolitan areas in 20 countries on four continents. FMI: http://www.wcsd.westinghouse.com.

GST Telecommunications, Inc., headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., currently operates on an integrated fiber network throughout the western United States and Hawaii. Facilities-based GST provides a broad range of telecommunications products and services including local dial tone, long distance, Internet, and enhanced data services such as electronic commerce. GST continues to focus on its western regional strategy by anchoring its CLEC networks in local markets and connecting them via long haul fiber networks. FMI: www.gstcorp.com.

Nortel Networks is delivering the broadest portfolio of next generation Internet Telephony solutions to wireline, wireless and cable service providers and enterprises in order to simplify voice and Internet access for businesses and consumers. The flexible approach meets the explosive demand for voice and Internet services such as voice over IP, multimedia applications, unified messaging and virtual private networks.