Accordion pushes network intelligence to the edge

(Telephony) Accordion Networks has introduced technology that integrates the functionality of a number of discrete devices such as a Layer3+ switch, edge router, quality of service engines and IP service switch and moves them to an on-site point-of-presence (POP) platform in a business environment.

"We're dealing with activation, personalization and management at the network edge," said Rajan Aiyer, Accordion's co-founder and marketing vice president. "Service intelligence needs to move to the edge of the network."

Accordion locates its platform in a building or business campus and enables service providers to control the network elements.

"Our customers are ILECs, IXCs, IOCs or CLECs, anybody who has an access infrastructure that can be scaled to deliver a full suite of services," Aiyer said. "They can start off with a few basic services and quickly go on to more enhanced voice and IP services."

The Accordion platform, he said, "could be IP-centric, soft-switch services on the voice side (and), on the IP side, it could be like a virtual private network or managed firewall applications."

A key differentiator from other edge-of-network platforms is "we start off with today's legacy services and bundle upcoming IP applications services,” Aiyer said. “We start off with legacy toll-quality voice [and] truly high-speed broadband Internet access."

Accordion's solution delivers a 30-gigabit switched fabric that can switch packets and cells at the same time with very fine grain quality of service. It can support up to 72 subscribers each with up to 26 Mbps of symmetrical bandwidth over copper at a distance of 1500 feet, Aiyer said.

"We are truly focusing on business-class services," he said. "We're really focusing on easing the provisioning issues for the service providers using this utility."