Sonus helps carriers' carrier with IP core

Sonus Networks today said it has entered into the last phase of an IP network upgrade with infrastructure provider Neutral Tandem, including the replacement of nine TDM switches to new IP-based platforms.

Chicago-based Neutral Tandem is a carrier’s carrier, providing tandem services to wireless, wireline, cable and other broadband providers. At the end of last year, the carrier was capable of connecting almost 400 million telephone numbers assigned to carriers, a common way to measure the capacity of backbone providers.

Neutral Tandem has been working with Sonus for several years to upgrade its IP core network, with the final nine switches due to be switched out this year. Using Sonus, gear, Neutral Tandem is already carrying 6 billion minutes of IP voice traffic a month for its carrier customers in 100 markets across the US. The increased use of SIP interconnections is driving the carrier to accelerate its deployment of an IP core, the company said.

Neutral Tandem is deploying a full suite of Sonus' IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-ready platforms, including the GSX9000 switch, the PSX Policy Server and the Sonus Insight Management System.

Neutral Tandem has also deployed the Sonus Network Border Switch for network security and direct IP-to-IP peering capabilities.

While Sonus has been making a big push into wireless, wireline IP core/IMS deployments remain its bread and butter.