MetaSwitch goes upscale with Telebec

Selling its switching and application platform to Bell Nordiq was a big deal for MetaSwitch, but it could get even bigger with the potential for expanding into other Bell Canada subsidiaries.

For now, MetaSwitch will deploy products and deliver integration and professional services at Telebec, Québec’s leading regional telecommunications company. MetaSwitch launched its professional services organization approximately one year ago.

According to Andy Randall, vice president of marketing for MetaSwitch, it is the first time a Bell Canada affiliate has ventured outside of Canada for its switching infrastructure, thereby loosening Nortel’s grip on the market.

MetaSwitch began building its sales force last year to go after the Tier 2 and Tier 1 carrier market. The Bell Nordiq deal and MetaSwitch’s deal with BT demonstrate progress in that area.

We have come a long way and can now demonstrate that we have the ability, the depth and the heft to support a large incumbent in a network-wide rollout,” Randall said. “We’re not just providing equipment and throwing it over the wall. We are really providing a full turnkey integration, project management and end-to-end professional services that a major incumbent really needs to move ahead.”

Telebec plans to bring digital telephony to its business and residential customers through the multi-year partnership. The deployment is part of Telebec’s planned IP multimedia subsystem architecture.

Telebec and its subsidiaries offer integrated telecommunications solutions in 300 Québec municipalities covering 750,000 square kilometers. It has about 250,000 subscribers.

Randall said the companies are in early trials and will be moving to a larger scale deployment in the coming months.