Adtran puts emphasis on the enterprise

LAS VEGAS - Looking to shed its image as a maker of carrier gear only, Adtran this week will begin calling more attention to its enterprise WAN gear with the formation of a new unit dedicated to this market.

The Enterprise Networks Division, which will oversee Adtran's DSU/CSU, ISDN router and T-1 access equipment lines, makes its debut at NetWorld+ Interop 99.

The group will celebrate by introducing new software that helps customers back up their frame relay networks. In the event that a frame relay connection breaks, the product lets customers route traffic over ISDN links, which can be less expensive than redundant frame relay connections.

"It makes good sense for backing up your frame relay network, assuming the ISDN is available in the locations needed at a reasonable price," says Tim Smith, an analyst at Dataquest.

Since the AT&T frame relay network crashed last year leaving entire corporate networks down for hours, net executives have been seeking new frame relay backup options.

Adtran's new Safe-T-Net software can be used to upgrade an existing Adtran Atlas 800 integrated access device. The new technology enables the Atlas 800 to handle traffic from up to 96 backup connections. Typically, traffic would be sent to the Atlas 800 via ISDN from Adtran DSU IQs or Express frame relay access devices at remote sites. The Atlas 800, receiving the traffic over ISDN Primary Rate Interface connections, would direct traffic to its destination or destinations via healthy frame relay lines or other ISDN links.

Dataquest's Smith warns that ISDN rates vary widely depending on the carrier, so customers should check local rates for ISDN and compare them to local rates for buying redundant frame relay connections from two different carriers.

Adtran's Safe-T-Net also allows the Atlas 800 to back up different frame relay intranets within an enterprise.

For example, if an engineering group within a corporation has a separate network from the sales force, the Atlas 800 can back up both groups and keep traffic from the two networks separate.

The backup system handles data and voice over frame relay.

The Safe-T-Net software is free but requires ISDN hardware modules costing about $2,300.

Still selling to carriers

In addition to re-energizing its enterprise network efforts, Adtran is changing the name of its telco division to Carrier Networks Division.

The new name is part of Adtran's plan to emphasize the company's gear for upstart carriers and ISPs as well as for traditional phone companies.

The first new product out of this renamed division is the Total Access 750, a T-1 access device that would sit at a customer site but would probably be sold and managed by a carrier.

Customers will be able to directly tie their LANs, PBXs and video gear into the access device, potentially eliminating the need for separate T-1s for voice and data.

Total Access 750 costs $2,545 and will be available next month.

Adtran: (800) 923-8726