DSLAM packs a multiservice punch

Rather than force service providers to use different pieces of equipment for each type of DSL, this week Lucent Technologies will announce its new DSL access multiplexer that combines it all.

The Stinger, which was developed by Ascend Communications, can support ISDN DSL, asymmetrical DSL, high bit-rate DSL2 and symmetrical DSL within the same unit. The product eliminates the need for separate DSLAMs for each DSL service, as well as the need for separate ATM multiplexes, service selection gateways and loop testers.

Lucent hopes the multiple services and the integrated ATM switching will entice a greater variety of service providers. "This is the first integrated DSLAM with ATM switching at the heart of it," said Amra Tareen, product marketing director of the access and concentration division of Lucent's internetworking systems. Integrated ATM switching reduces costs by having fewer points of failure, more effective management and less product training, Tareen said.

"Multiservice is really a natural for us," said Rich Phillips, president of competitive local exchange carrier Primary Network, which deploys the Stinger. Primary will use the Stinger's integrated structure to offer advanced quality control and assure throughput rates.

"CLECs, which represent Lucent's traditional customer base rather than incumbents, are really trying to avoid using several different pieces of equipment for each service," said Shannon Pleasant, senior analyst at Cahners InStat Group. "[It's] a single platform that won't limit the types of services that can be deployed."

Pleasant also believes the multiservice functionality of the product will not be unique to Lucent for long because Alcatel, Nortel Networks and Cisco Systems will follow quickly.