Tollgrade to Feature Cheetah Solutions for VoIP and IP Services Deployment at CableLabs® Winter Conference 2006
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 27 -- Tollgrade Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLGD), a leader in communications test and management solutions will feature Tollgrade Cheetah(TM) Cable Network Assurance Solutions at the CableLabs® Winter Conference 2006, being held in Colorado Springs February 26 - 28, 2006. Tollgrade's exhibit will feature products that address the unique challenges of VoIP- and IP-based service deployments. The Cheetah VoIP software module for Tollgrade's DOCSIS®-based transponder tests VoIP Quality of Service (QoS), proactively manages network performance and remotely isolates multi-layered service troubles by identifying and correlating faults within customer, outside plant, headend and core network locations.
"Tollgrade's Cheetah Cable Solution is an industry first, integrating HFC, DOCSIS and VoIP fault/performance data into a single system. Most broadband troubles persist between the headend and the customer residence. This unique multi-layered capability provides a critical element of our customer's installation and maintenance process for cable broadband services," said Mark Peterson, Tollgrade's Chief Executive Officer.
Tollgrade's seamlessly integrated hardware and software offering allows cable broadband service providers to build, operate and assure their VoIP networks, applications and services by providing proactive, end-to-end service level management (SLM) and service level agreement (SLA) verification.
The Cheetah Service Assurance Solution consists of a remotely-installable PacketCable(TM)-based E-MTA emulator software upgrade and a strategically located suite of DOCSIS-based power supply transponders and ruggedized DOCSIS-based End-of-Line probes for in-network active VoIP testing.
The following Tollgrade products will be featured at the event:
DOCSIS-based TRANSPONDER
Tollgrade's Cheetah DOCSIS-based transponders enable cable operators to proactively monitor devices in the outside plant using the existing DOCSIS infrastructure. Device and system data is sent via the DOCSIS channels from the transponder through the existing CMTS to software tools such as Tollgrade's Cheetah Broadband Assurance Software. This provides cable operators the ability to manage their data to precisely pinpoint the location and cause of problems, often identifying degrading equipment before failure. Being able to proactively respond to these system performance issues minimizes plant downtime, lowers costs and increases customer satisfaction.
DOCSIS-based TRANSPONDER VoIP SOFTWARE
The VoIP software is an optional upgrade that transforms the Tollgrade DOCSIS-based transponder and End-of-Line probe (model CMD-E) into a PacketCable-based E-MTA emulator for VoIP quality testing of the HFC trunk and feeder network. The VoIP software module is remotely installable, supports advanced PacketCable protocols including Provisioning Flows, Security and Dynamic Quality of Service (DQoS). The VoIP software auto-answers calls, including NCS Loopback calls, and generates RTCP eXtended Reports (RTCP XR) metrics (MOS, R-Factor, Loss, Latency, Jitter, etc.) for real-time call quality analysis.
CMD-E DOCSIS-based VoIP PROBE
The CMD-E is an environmentally hardened, line-powered E-MTA emulator in a strand-mountable housing that can be deployed anywhere within the HFC network to measure VoIP quality from the headend to the end-of-line. The CMD-E DOCSIS-based VoIP probe enables cable operators to proactively monitor the network's ability to transport VoIP services from the headend to the end-of-line. Each CMD-E auto-answers PacketCable-based telephony calls using Network-Based Call Signaling (NCS) protocol while monitoring call quality in real-time. The CMD-E appears as a subscriber E-MTA to the Call Management Server (CMS).
About Tollgrade
Tollgrade Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of network service assurance products and services for centralized test systems around the world. Tollgrade designs, engineers, markets and supports centralized test systems, test access and status monitoring products, and next generation network assurance technologies for the broadband marketplace. Tollgrade's customers range from the top RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies) and Cable providers, to numerous independent telecom, cable and broadband providers around the world. Tollgrade's network testing, measurement and monitoring solutions support the infrastructure of cable and telecom companies offering current and emerging triple play services. Tollgrade, headquartered near Pittsburgh in Cheswick, Pa., and its products and customer reach span over 200 million embedded access lines, more than any other test and measurement supplier. For more information, visit Tollgrade's web site at http://www.tollgrade.com/.
Source: Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
CONTACT: Bob Butter, Director, Communications of Tollgrade Communications, Inc., +1-412-820-1347, cell: +1-412-736-6186, bbutter@tollgrade.com
Web site: http://www.tollgrade.com/
