CopperCom Offers Host-Remote Upgrade

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- CopperCom, the company with "The strength to build the future and the know-how to do it right," today announced the industry's first packet-based host-remote switching solution for the Independent Operating Company (IOC) Market. While a number of next generation switching suppliers have trained their focus on the IOC Market, CopperCom is the first with a solution for a configuration historically known as "host-remote," which represents the majority of switches in the legacy installed base. Of approximately 10,000 switching elements, 75% are in a host-remote relationship in the IOC market.

In this configuration, a centralized "host" switch in a main town has a number of subtended smaller "remote" switches serving townships miles away. The function of the host is to provide service for the subscribers connected to it as well as providing centralized functions for the remotes such as consolidated management, billing, voicemail and signaling functions for the entire network. One of the key capabilities of a host-remote configuration is the ability of the remote switch to go into "emergency standalone" mode and continue to offer access to E911, community calling, local emergency services and calling features if a network problem has stranded it from the host.

CopperCom's host-remote complex has the network management capability to have the network of switches appear and be operated as a single entity. In addition, the solution provides the ability to run the entire complex of switches in packet mode or circuit mode (or a combination of both) thereby providing the carrier with a tremendous set of options. The options include the ability to take advantage of low-cost packet trunking between host and remote serving territories, the ability to offer packet-based services in areas only served by circuit services today and the ability to replace much larger network complexes should a carrier decide to consolidate disparate legacy switches into a more efficient serving arrangement.

"Host-Remote packet-based hierarchical switch deployment is the goal of local incumbent carriers," said Tom Nolle, chief executive officer, CIMI Corporation. "CopperCom's packet-based host-remote offering not only brings IOC switching up to the highest strategic level, but also demonstrates CopperCom's understanding of the needs of the IOC market and the customers these independent carriers serve."

"Our host-remote architecture is another major step forward for our product line," said Bob Kersey, vice president of marketing and product management for CopperCom. "The CSX Next Generation Switch with IP, Circuit, a broadband line frame and now a fully supported packet-based host-remote solution, is evidence of our focus on providing what our customers need in order to replace their legacy Class 5 switching networks."

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