European CLEC Uses RAD Converters to Connect IP DSLAMs over SDH Infrastructure

Jazztel, one of Spain’s leading local exchange carriers (CLEC) and a provider of applications and value added services with its own infrastructure, offers enterprises and residential customers wideband solutions for voice traffic, data and Internet access. The company’s proprietary network, unique in Spain, permits it to maintain its innovative lead. With an investment of 600 million, it has completed an extensive network deployment in more than 100 metropolitan areas and industrial parks. Its local access network infrastructure, which is connected to its backbone, constitutes one of the fastest telecommunications networks in Europe.

To enable it to connect its IP DSLAMs over existing SDH infrastructure, Jazztel decided to deploy hundreds of intelligent converters from RAD Data Communications throughout the country.

RAD’s RIC-155GE intelligent converters will enable Jazztel to transport IP-based services over an existing SDH backbone while reserving the option to migrate to a packet switched backbone in the future. The savings that will accrue will allow Jazztel to invest in marketing the IP services that it will be able to provide its customers over SDH that will, in turn, expedite payback and new revenue generation.

“Jazztel had been offering DSL services over an ATM backbone but is now moving to IP DSLAMs in response to future market trends,” noted Jose Aronson, Regional Sales Manager for Iberia at RAD Data Communications. “The RIC-155GE bridges the gap between technologies, and, therefore, will make Jazztel’s migration to Next Generation packet switched networks smooth and affordable.”

The RIC-155GE enables simple, efficient and cost-effective bridging of Gigabit Ethernet over STM-1 SDH and OC-3 SONET lines. Typically located at the customer premises as a CPE/CLE, the RIC-155GE’s bridging function supports both transparent VLAN-unaware and VLAN-aware operating modes.

Joaquín Ortigas, Sales Carrier Manager at Landata, the RAD distributor that proposed the RIC-155GE solution to Jazztel, stated that “Landata’s experience working with operators clearly demonstrates that RAD’s solution was the best option for the application that Jazztel required.”

Jazztel’s high-capacity fiber optic network provides wideband services and complements other access technologies, such as xDSL and LMDS (for access over radio). Jazztel’s network includes a high-capacity backbone that interconnects with those of Spain’s larger carriers and access network rings in urban centers and industrial parks.