Lucent adds packets to circuit switch

Lucent last week broadened its circuit-to-packet migration offerings with a switch and components designed to let service providers evolve Class 5 networks to IP.

Lucent’s 5E-XC switch for its 5ESS circuit switches nearly triples the capacity of the Class 5 system while requiring less floor space. The switch features the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which lets the 5ESS support new services and existing telephony services, Lucent says.

The 5E-XC supports up to 256,000 trunks, compared with 92,000 trunks on a 5ESS switch. The 5E-XC can save service providers up to 50% annually on the total cost of owning a switch, including office space, power, cooling, installation, maintenance and software-upgrade costs, Lucent says.

The switch can be deployed as a stand-alone system, or its components can serve as incremental adjuncts or upgrades to a 5ESS. These components include:

To continue reading, register here to become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

Lucent last week broadened its circuit-to-packet migration offerings with a switch and components designed to let service providers evolve Class 5 networks to IP.

Lucent’s 5E-XC switch for its 5ESS circuit switches nearly triples the capacity of the Class 5 system while requiring less floor space. The switch features the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which lets the 5ESS support new services and existing telephony services, Lucent says.

The 5E-XC supports up to 256,000 trunks, compared with 92,000 trunks on a 5ESS switch. The 5E-XC can save service providers up to 50% annually on the total cost of owning a switch, including office space, power, cooling, installation, maintenance and software-upgrade costs, Lucent says.

The switch can be deployed as a stand-alone system, or its components can serve as incremental adjuncts or upgrades to a 5ESS. These components include:

• A communications module, combined with new software, that can enable a nearly threefold increase in capacity with one-twelfth the space and one-tenth the power.

• An optical interface unit that, at 120,000 trunks, enables a tenfold increase in the number of trunks per cabinet or rack.

• A signaling platform that uses 40% less power and supports larger call volumes.

• Switch software (5E16.2) that features call-forwarding to five different numbers simultaneously and a Centrex call-transfer feature that identifies the person initiating the call rather than the person transferring the call. 5E16.2 can be enhanced through software downloads at a savings of 75% over previous software upgrade options, Lucent says.

SBC Communications is deploying the 5E-XC in its local network to interconnect with wireless and long-distance carriers in an access tandem switch application. SBC also offers an IP Centrex service based on Lucent gear.

All 5E-XC components are available now. An IP card that runs the SIP software is scheduled to be available in the fourth quarter of next year.

Read more about convergence in Network World's Convergence section.