Occam Networks launches loop carrier

(Telephony) Occam Networks today unveiled its first product with the introduction of a box that acts as a digital loop carrier, a DSL access multiplexer, a media gateway and a loop tester.

The company’s Broadband Loop Carriers (BLCs) are environmentally hardened and are designed to go in a remote-terminal rack. Initially, Occam is aiming to support carriers that either are extending POTS or are trying to deploy high-speed data services in areas where copper is not abundant.

“At a time when carriers are struggling with profitability in broadband, we think we can give them a shot in the arm,” said Mark Rumer, chief technical officer and co-founder of Occam. “We want to enter the network from the remote terminal.”

Perhaps capitalizing on the current economic climate, Occam is promising carriers offering DSL via the BLCs a return on investment of less than one year.

In a POTS-only configuration, the BLCs can support lifeline service. However, when a carrier decides to offer a high-speed data service such as ADSL, provisioning is done through a management interface, eliminating the need for a truck roll to the remote terminal. On the back end of the BLC, carriers can have traditional T1, ATM or gigabit Ethernet back to the central office. The BLCs also can be connected directly to a softswitch enabling carriers to offer voice over IP service.

Currently the BLCs come in two models—the BLC-1100, designed for transforming narrowband loops, and the BLC-2200, which can support up to 288 POTS/ADSL ports and 240 POTS/G.SHDSL ports in a single five-rack unit.

In a related announcement, Occam said Rural Telephone of Kansas and Armstrong Telephone will use the BLCs in trials.