Occam Networks Announces SIP Support

SIP Added as Part of New OccamOS Release

Occam Networks® Inc., a leading supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies, announced today it has added a truly carrier-class implementation of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as part of the company's new OccamOS release. Multiple Occam customers are currently trialing the OccamOS 5.3 which is generating industry-wide praise.

"We use SIP today in deploying an IP Centrex product in combination with Occam's BLC 6000 platform," said Dave Martin, director of technology, Blackfoot Communications, Inc. "Pushing SIP to the access platform is clearly the trend and we are eager to see that capability move toward the edge of the network. Occam's SIP features will improve survivability and prepare the Occam platform for the future evolution of multimedia services, providing better and more responsive customer service."

Primary features of the release include support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for Occam's BLC POTS blades, Combo POTS and DSL blades, and Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). Additional features include:

- Simplified troubleshooting and service quality management including telco-configurable options for peer-to-peer or through-switch call routing

- Common subscriber provisioning and management across Lifeline POTS, ONTs, as well as derived voice (terminal adapter or IAD) subscriber services

- Interoperability with a broad variety of Softswitches, including products from Nortel, Metaswitch, Coppercom and Broadsoft

- Easy transition from Class 5 to SIP Softswitches with subscriber-by-subscriber assignment

- Enabling Occam BLCs and ONTs to act as Media Gateways under the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture

"As carriers of all sizes integrate IP-based voice, data and video into their networks, maintaining carrier class quality of service is critical to maintaining and growing the subscriber base," said Teresa Mastrangelo, Principal Analyst at Broadband Trends. "Occam's new SIP features include many of the qualities carriers demand, including broad softswitch interoperability, a single SIP call control plane for fiber and copper, customization capabilities, preconfiguration for IMS architecture and more."

"SIP is rapidly becoming a valid alternative to MGCP or GR 303 for the control of voice services in carrier networks due the wide variety of traditional and value-add features and services it enables," said Russ Sharer, vice president of marketing for Occam Networks. "The introduction of our new SIP offering continues to demonstrate a primary Occam value, adding carrier-class reliability to industry standard protocols to deliver advanced, revenue-enhancing solutions to our telco customers."

By Occam