PLANO, Texas -- Santera Systems Inc., a leading provider of next-generation switching solutions, today announced that TDS TELECOM has signed a three-year purchase agreement. The first switch will be installed in its Madison, Wis.-based local network, TDS METROCOM. TDS TELECOM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (AMEX:TDS) with more than 800,000 access lines in rural and suburban communities nationwide, will use SanteraOne to handle both data and Class 5 voice traffic. As part of the TDS network, SanteraOne initially will be doing PRI Offload. "Established telcos like TDS are looking for next generation switching solutions that can handle native circuit and packet traffic with the reliability and quality that their customers demand, while at the same time opening up a whole new dimension of services," said Charles Vogt, vice president of sales for Santera Systems. "We competed with many other next generation switching providers for TDS's circuit-to-packet network evolution and are very excited about being chosen by TDS." Santera Systems Inc.