Unisphere ups IP-routing ante to 40 Gigs

Unisphere Networks is pushing the IP envelope with a 40 Gb/s IP edge router, the ERX 1440, that it says offers integrated IP routing, subscriber management and IP services/service creation at wireline speed.

Unisphere is making a point at this week’s Supercomm in Atlanta to differentiate itself in the edge marketplace by using consolidation “where the network faces the core and faces the subscriber,” said Karen Livoli, director of product marketing.

“We’ve always believed that subscriber management, IP services and routing belonged in a single box. It’s all based on finance,” she continued. “A single box is always more cost-effective in terms of managing and provisioning and the ability to get services up and running.”

Not everything, though, can reside at the network edge, she concedes.

“I would never put a firewall inside a router,” she said. “The firewall is supposed to be at the CPE (customer premises equipment). However I would say that routing, subscriber management and IP services should be in a single box.”

Livoli believes strongly that IP-based networks’ service providers will weather the current economic slump and continue to grow, aided by products that allow existing networks to migrate to the IP realm.

“It’s very dependent on the service provider,” she admitted. “I don’t think it’s a science experiment anymore. I think it’s accepted technology.”

Applications, she added, will drive the technology. Korea Telecom, she said is an example of “how user demand can grow once a couple of cool applications are provided.” In this case, Korea Telecom has tapped into a national gaming craze and built its DSL business to about 2 million users.

“It’s really taken off,” she said. “That’s one of the interesting things (that happen due to) the breadth of the services you can offer on the Unisphere platform.”