Alcatel Introduces ADSL-based Instant Internet and Other New Features in Its Wireline Access Portfolio With Litespan-1540 - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 18, 1999

Wednesday, Alcatel unveiled a new feature package in its wireline access portfolio for ETSI markets, with its Litespan-1540.

Alcatel's Litespan-1540 seamlessly builds on the Alcatel 1540 MSAN permitting telecom operators to serve both their business and residential customers from a single node. This modular platform provides high-quality traditional voice and data services in addition to Instant Internet and multimedia in a flexible, future-safe environment.

With the introduction of this new feature package, telecom operators now have a real solution for their customers requiring narrowband and broadband services. "Litespan-1540 is a tailored solution for today's telecom operators who want to be ready to meet all of tomorrow's challenges," confirms Luis Martinez Amago, Vice President of Alcatel's ETSI wireline access activities. "ADSL integration, greater capacity and flexible configurations make the Litespan-1540 the best multiservice access solution on the market today."

Alcatel's Litespan-1540 combines in the same shelf the most advanced ADSL technology for instant Internet with the usual narrowband services on a board per board basis. The equipment is gaining in compactness also incorporating an Add/Drop Multiplexer reduced to a single board. Its subscriber capacity has doubled, with 30 subscribers to every POTS card and 16 subscribers to every ISDN card.

Litespan-1540 is extremely flexible and supports many different network topologies on the backbone side, including SDH STM-1/4, HDSL and optical PDH as well as multiple capacities (from tens to thousands of subscribers per node). Depending on the network's size, Litespan-1540 can be managed with a simple laptop or as an element of a 3-layered integrated management system with full interoperability.

Litespan-1540 is a future proof solution with the necessary bandwidth and ease-of-upgrade to allow the operator to introduce any service upon demand.

A pioneer in wireline access systems, Alcatel consolidates its Multiservice Access offering in a single family, Litespan, featuring specific characteristics to meet all market requirements for ETSI specs (Litespan-1540) and ANSI specs (Litespan-2000). Backed by the largest installed base with more than 20 million installed access lines on the five continents, Alcatel is recognized as the worldwide market leader in the wireline access segment.

Litespan-1540: Added Value for Telecom Operators The new feature package in the Litespan-1540 lets telecom operators provide multiservice offerings with clear advantages like the following:

-- Flexibility The Litespan-1540 provides any combination of voice and data services in both the residential and business sectors serving the narrowband and broadband needs of the subscribers.

-- Scalability The "invest as you grow" philosophy allows the operator to introduce new services upon demand. Boards are interchangeable without traffic interruption allowing the operator to replace POTS boards with ADSL boards, for example, as broadband service demand grows. Thanks to this "universal slot" concept, each system can gracefully evolve to meet future needs as the service mix changes over time.

-- Ease Ease of installation, operation and maintenance, thanks to a modular equipment concept and a reduction at minimum of the number of spares.

* The new feature package also affects the operators' bottom line reducing both the CAPEX and the OPEX:

* Reduction in the copper plant, ducts and buildings by providing indoor, outdoor and underground cabinets thus reducing floor space requirements.

* Optimal use of bandwidth due to the use of fiber as well as multiplexing and concentration technologies.

* Integrated network management with an intuitive and easy-to-use graphical interface, simplifying the daily management of the network.

* The reach of broadband services is extended, making the "Fiber-to-the-Economical-Point" concept (i.e. to-the-curb, to-the-home, etc.) real and allowing for optimal "bandwidth management".

* Full interoperability with other vendor's equipment is ensured, employing the V5.1 and V5.2 for narrowband and, in the near future, VB5.1 and VB5.2 for broadband interfaces.

Litespan-1540: What's New?

ADSL in the access node

The most advanced ADSL technology for Instant Internet access is now combined in the same shelf together with the usual narrowband subscriber services. Any combination of services is available by simply plugging in the ADSL board alongside the narrowband boards.

Improved subscriber capacity

Litespan-1540 services more subscribers with fewer boards. Now, line card capacity for POTS service is extended to 30 subscribers; 16 for ISDN. This increase translates into less equipment and greater savings for the telecom operators.

ADM on a single board

The Add/Drop Multiplexer has been reduced to a single board in the Litespan-1540 node. This compact and powerful solution brings the advantages of SDH closer to the end-user.

An access network needs to be tailored to the demographics and telecommunication service demands of each operator's service area in order to keep investment and operational costs to a minimum. This is why the Litespan-1540 supports many different network topologies on the backbone side, including SDH STM-1/4, HDSL and optical PDH as well as multiple capacities (from tens to thousands of subscribers per node). This compact equipment can be configured as indoor or can be housed in robust outdoor (and even underground) cabinets.