VTR Selects Ellacoya

MERRIMACK, N.H. -- Ellacoya Networks(tm), Inc., a leading provider of service control solutions for broadband IP networks, today announced that VTR has deployed its IP Service Control System(tm) to enable new IP services on its network of more than 240,000 subscribers. VTR, a Liberty Global International company and the leading Multiple Systems Operator (MSO) in Chile, has deployed Ellacoya's e30 IP switches and Service Logic Software(tm) (SLS) network-wide to report on subscriber and application usage, improve performance and quickly roll out new IP services. The Ellacoya platform enabled the launch of VTR's landmark 10 Mbps service offering, providing the network control capabilities to deliver the service on a per-subscriber basis.

"Since 2003 we've relied on Ellacoya to help us understand subscriber and application usage, reduce costs and improve network performance, resulting in a rapid return on investment (ROI)." Said Dale Bassen, Vice President of Engineering for VTR. "The platform has now proven its ability to let us differentiate by rapidly and easily delivering speed-, usage- and application-based service plans on a per subscriber basis. We evaluated similar solutions and selected Ellacoya on the basis of carrier-grade performance, scalability, and flexibility to meet our business objectives."

Ellacoya's unique scalable architecture of centralized management and distributed switching enabled VTR to deploy more than 30 switches across the nation-wide network and manage them centrally as a single system with Ellacoya's Service Logic Software (SLS). In the SLS, service plans are defined as a set of policies and applied to subscriber profiles that are stored in its database. Once a subscriber accesses the service, a unique profile is downloaded to the switch where network policies are enforced based on the user's service plan.

VTR's new service offers up to 10 Mbps throughput with a 5 Gigabyte (GB) monthly usage quota, the equivalent of downloading about 1,500 songs. Subscribers can purchase additional usage/bandwidth on demand as required in 1GB and 5GB usage increments.

The Ellacoya system controls the 10 Mbps speeds and records usage; integrating through its open Application Programming Interface (API) with provisioning systems to dynamically change the offering when capacity is reached or more bandwidth is ordered. "Ellacoya's open, centralized API integrated seamlessly and easily with our existing systems and enabled us to roll out the 10 Mbps service quickly," added VTR's Engineering Manager Hernan Benavides.

Line-rate Gigabit performance and the ability to scale with carrier-grade reliability were the primary requirements for VTR. Ellacoya's DHCP passive authentication was also a significant factor in the decision. DHCP passive authentication allows VTR to auto-authenticate users, measuring usage and enforcing policies by Cable Modem MAC address, rather than simply authenticating by IP address.

"VTR is truly advancing the broadband market in Chile by offering new services that enhance the user's experience," said Gerald Wesel, Executive Chairman at Ellacoya Networks. "We are very pleased to be working with such a leading broadband provider."

Ellacoya Networks Inc.